Switched!

I'm not sure what happened this week, but it feels like one of those movies where two family members touch the same magical object during a lightning storm and their bodies get switched. Tayedon has turned into a sweet and helpful kid, while Lexander's dark side has shown itself. Usually I get "no" for an answer whenever I ask Taye to help with something, but he has been eager to bring me anything I ask for and is enjoying putting things away like his brother used to. Oh, but when I praised him in front of his brother, did it create an outrage. Rather than actually doing anything positive, Lex has been whining and pouting, "I'm the most helpful!"
He's gotten that look in his eye too - the one that says, "What are you going to do about it?" and is looking for opportunities to get into trouble - taking things from his brother and making a mess on purpose. I realize this is normal toddler behavior, but we have been spoiled and not experienced much frustration with Lex.
Now it seems he's not only catching up on what he missed out on as a toddler, but is simultaneously experimenting with the dark side of a four-year-old too - we've caught him lying:(! When I asked him to put his trash away, he said it was Tayedon's (when I knew it wasn't), and when Michael asked him if he washed his hands, he said yes (when we knew he hadn't). I used to be able to go to him to find out the truth about whatever happened, but now I'll have to guess that it's somewhere between what both boys tell me.
He's also learned how to push my buttons. He makes the most annoying roar of a lion sound that makes Elli jump - and he does so on purpose when I'm trying to get her calmed to sleep. I think he says something is a "gun" just because he knows I don't like them. He tries to get Taye to follow him into another room and cause trouble so that I have to stop what I'm doing.
And I realize this is probably the main cause - he's fighting for attention that I'm splitting between Elliana, Tayedon, Michael, and myself. It's frustrating though, that when I bribe or reward him with a new book or toy or tv/computer time, instead of being able to reap the benefits for the rest of the day, I get a spoiled kid who just wants more. I sure hope this phase passes quickly!
On the other hand, I am enjoying Taye more - he's the one who just wants to sit and read a book or do a puzzle with me. To my pleasant surprise, he's also started waking up happy in the morning:) He can dress himself, is working on potty training, and is a super helper.