I'm curious why you chose to post this one in color. I think it's more dramatic than the other, with the eye contact, and his eyes so big. There are some compositional issues though. We see too much shirt and not enough head.

he looks so sad

A beautiful child with pretty eyes, but the flash exposure is washing him out. The lack of background means that there is no real context. This shot is primarily of impact for people who know and love him, but to a stranger it doesn't offer enough drama.