FOUR years ago, Gary and Deborah Noonan were celebrating their wedding with a honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro.

And they marked their anniversary this year with another memorable moment.

For the couple, from Milton, opted to enter 14-month-old son Gabriel into The Sentinel's Baby and Toddler of the Year competition four years to the day they tied the knot.

Deborah, a former insurance broker, said: "We took Gabriel for his pictures on our wedding anniversary because we thought it would be nice after seeing Gabriel's smile last year."

The cheeky tot was entered into last year's competition. And the family have now entered him again this time around.

Deborah said it was good to spend time together, because builder Gary, aged 37, normally works weekdays.

And she remembered the circumstances around her son's beaming smile as it was captured on camera in last year's competition.

The 29-year-old said: "He'd just had his immunisation injections, which weren't very nice for him, before we took him for his photos, so he wasn't very happy.

"But the girls were making him laugh and he did a big smile.

"The final pictures were very nice and we ended up buying them all."

The blue-eyed baby's grin has even got him noticed abroad.

Deborah, of Bagnall Road, said: "He's a really happy and loves smiling at all the girls.

"When we took him on holiday he was smiling at all the women in Ibiza and waving – he's a very cheeky baby."

The beaming youngster also enjoys dancing and playing on the swings in the park.

Maureen Callaway, Deborah's mum, aged 65, of Griffiths Way, Stone, said: "Gabriel's lovely.

"He's a little angel and he's always happy, unless he's hungry.

"He's got a lovely big smile and smiles at all the ladies in the supermarket – they're all drawn to him.

"He's learning to walk at the moment and toddling around the furniture. If he gets near the stairs he can crawl up them in a flash. He loves noisy, musical toys. He's a typical boy."

Photo sessions for the competition continue at the Roebuck Shopping Centre, Newcastle, until Saturday.

For details, see the advert on this page.