Smile; the universal language

Smiles are amazing; each so different from the next, and yet, cross culturally meaning the same thing. Happiness. Amusement. Pleasure. Delight. A universal language we don't need to speak to understand. Smiles are beautiful...missing teeth and all. A smile can turn someone's bad day around, at least this mommy's bad day. 

I was looking through pictures of my kids the other day and realized that the majority of the ones that my youngest son is in, he looks expressionless. This is my happy, laughing child. And yet, I have been so unsuccessful in capturing it on camera lately. Until this past weekend.

I love this picture...it's more tongue than smile but you can still see his happy expression and adorable dimples. 

True delight. Oh how I love them.

As parents, witnessing a baby's first smile is such a magical, momentous occasion. To see your baby's lips curl with delight is something you will then repeatedly try to to achieve. We do the silliest things over and over just to experience that moment again and again. And I'll be the first to admit, I still do it even after the infant years have come and gone. But I cherish the moments they smile all on their own.

Yes, that's me (I can't believe I"m posting this for the blogging world to see. Thanks Rachele!) trying to get my kids and their cousins to smile for the photographer; jumping up and down, making silly faces, and all. 

I know we can't expect our kids to smile all the time, but boy it fills my heart when they do. It saddens me to think of the times in their lives they will hurt; the times I won't be able to run over and give them hugs and kisses to make it better. So I'll hold on to these fleeting moments, and enjoy them to the fullest extent.

Smile on boys.

Readers: fess up...what have you done to make your kids smile? We've all done some pretty silly things. Do you remember where you were when your baby smiled for the first time?