The Fake Smile

The fake smile has arrived in full force. Can I blame the kid? I've taken over 10,000 pictures of him. I'm sure it's just a matter of days before he starts running and hiding from the camera. My poor oldest child. And poor youngest ones who will be lucky to have 10 pictures of them by the time they're 2 1/2. Oh well. So, here's the smile, and it's just goofy. At one point I told him to smile. He didn't, so then I told him to just show his teeth. He kind of took that recommendation to heart, and just shows those pearly whites whenever I point the camera at him. It's so fun to watch this little guy growing up and reaching those little milestones that I've observed in so many other kids. I am still just amazed that my little newborn is a Kid. He's not a baby anymore. He's this boy that's just getting bigger and more logical everyday. To see his little mind grow and develop is just fun. He's starting to get sneaky around us when he's doing something that he shouldn't. Of he's always been "too" quiet when he knows he's doing something naughty, but he's taking it to another level.

Story: Just yesterday he was in the pantry and he came across a box of brownie mix. Of course he wanted what he saw in the picture. I saw him look at it, want it, and walk around with the box in his hands. But, I didn't think much of it. I was busy packing treats for fireworks, and wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing. So, when he went over to his toy corner to "play" I didn't think anything of it...
It wasn't until he came back into the kitchen to grab a butter knife that he caught Mike's attention. Or rather, it was his naughty little face that made Mike inquire further. When Mike saw James with the knife he asked what he needed it for. James just smiled and ran quickly back to the play corner, and behind the curtain where apparently he had been playing. Mike followed him only to discover that he had taken the brownie mix out of the box and was now trying to open the bag. Good thing he got caught when he did.
James was just so cute about it that I caved in and he helped me make the brownies. He's so goofy and I just love to see how that little mind of his works.