We start off Gregory's eighth month out of the womb with another pretty-eyed stare from the boy, again with his ruddy cheeks and swirl of blond hair.
Displaying endless fascination for anything around him, Gregory is particularly interested in the scratch and feel book such as this. In fact, he seems to determine the nature of everything with a little scratch of his finger. It's like it gives him all the vital information he needs.
He's at it again here, although Winnie the Pooh is trying to get a look in too.
A fun game that Lynne developed with Gregory that he likes to play involves rolling this ball to him, letting him pick it up then congratulating him for it. It wasn't too long before he was propelling it in a random direction rather than just putting it down. The keen-eyed will note the one-sock-on-one-sock-off fashion statement.
It's been a while since Daisy wanted to pick Gregory up, but she was keen to do so here. Gregory's rapid growth has certainly evened up the relative size of the two of them.
Daisy has recently discovered the camera functionality of my iPhone (which she occasionally borrows to play games) and here she has taken one surreptitiously, i.e. without me knowing until I uploaded it a few days later. My excellent parenting skills are on display. In truth, I think I am tired after an amazing night's sleep and just about focussing on the F1GP qualifying. Gregory is carrying on regardless.
Ah, the old rattle-ball-and-clothes-basket game I remember so well from my youth.
Daisy mulling around with a pink hat on; Gregory inspecting the flaps on his donut; TV on. Usual goings on in our living room.
But wait a minute! Young Gregory has spotted the Sky remote just out of reach...
...or is it? He's secured his prize. But now what? Probably chewing it, that's what. He has occasionally turned the TV on, but we're presuming by accident. It might have been this time when he - twice - managed to drag himself completely out of the donut - it's no longer functioning as a containment device.
He does love a good rattle, vigorously shaking it in this picture; so much so that whilst his head is in focus, his hands aren't.
We obtained a number of balloons from Katie's 28th birthday party, originally for Daisy but actually Gregory is pretty chuffed to get hold of them. He likes to grab it in one hand, with Lynne often fearful of his nails digging in just a little bit too much.
The cushions get ever more spread as we get more confident in his sitting abilities. Plus he does like to manoeuvre the himself. And he can now spin around into different positions, making it difficult to always ensure there is a cushion behind his head. He is increasingly so keen on grabbing things he wants that he is more and more ending up on his front, which he doesn't like. But his squirming in that position is getting ever more crawl-like. Nevertheless, it remains Lynne's expectation that he is going to be a bum-shuffler. Incidentally, he is pretty strong at standing with not too much support - I generally just need to hold his hands gently.
The cheeky chappy has been suffering with a cold this weekend (the last one in November), but he's still willing to give you a smile. The pink thing behind Gregory makes him look like he has sticky out ears.
As he gets older, we've started trying him with ever more adventurous foodstuffs. From mini-rice cakes and vegetable-type crisps, to breadsticks and, here, a mini pitta bread, which he chomps with his hardened gums (no teeth have yet emerged).
You can ask no more of what has been a bumper update just before the advent of December. (Do you see what I did there?)
It's early December and Gregory very much enjoys sitting on the bed in our room. (In the background, you can see my probably wet cycling clothes hanging on the wardrobe.)
Right ok, the donut is starting to get somewhat less effective and Gregory becomes increasingly mobile and just plain curious.
That means it's time to put him out on the open floor. This seems like a very positive move based on his reaction. These last two shots have been taken at 8am on a Friday - Lynne has just headed off to Manchester Airport to fly to Munich, meeting up with her mother and sister. I am home alone with the two children. Eek!
This is later in the morning. There is evidence that I have made progress - I have dressed one of my two children. The donut has well and truly been abandoned now. We will shortly head to the garden centre at Marple via a stop off at Aunty Judy's in Poynton.
I think this is at the garden centre at Marple, where I feed Gregory in the pram.
The default status on the Saturday was heading round to Waterdale Close, where it was Christmas tree decoration carnage. Gregory plays with his little collection of toys as Nana Sue looks on. We seem to be able to time our visits in conjunction with trees being put up.
Here is a close-up of the cheeky chappy looking up at his Nana.
And a long shot to display the complete mess on offer. Also featured: Daisy with Aunty Katie.
"Game of football, Nana?" he seems to be asking with the powers of suggestion and some thought-waves.
Synonymous with visiting grandparents (and particularly grandmothers) is the spoiling of the grandchildren. Gregory is given the opportunity to tuck into a rare treat: an ice-cream cone (including some ice-cream "to help his teething"). This is the kind of thing that doesn't happen at home.
It's time for a cuddle with Aunty Katie. This was about the only shot that they stayed still for long enough so that I could get a good snap. Gregory dutifully looks up at the camera too.
"I think I'm ready to go home, Dad."
And with that, we head into the Christmas season (perhaps a bit earlier than would be ideal, but these are the times we live in).