Andrew ji's Adventures

The Latest With Me

2009-06-03T07:13:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted in a very long time, so here I am!!!

It's finally Summer Break and I get to stay at home a lot with Mommy and my brothers and sister. This morning I got ready to go to work with Daddy. I love going to work with him when he has to go to court. He's a lawyer and I love sitting in court while he talks to judges, watching all the different people. When I got dressed I tried putting on an oxford shirt tucked into my pants (like Daddy does), but my mom has sewn in the waist to all my pants, so it looked silly. Instead, I had to wear my shirt tucked out and I was disappointed. I don't understand why I can't dress like Daddy now, when I'm nine years old. I want to be just like him, and I tell him that all the time. I want so badly to be a grown-up.

A week from Monday I'll start Summer school and I'm nervous about that. But what I'm most nervous about is my baby sister coming home from Ethiopia. Mommy must know about this because she smiled at me at the dinner table last night and said "You'll always have my attention, Andrew." We were sitting alone together. I couldn't figure out why she said that, so I asked her about it. She said "You know, when Amelie comes home I'm still going to give you a lot of attention." I don't know how she knew, but she knew I've been feeling scared. Scared of becoming less important or invisible. She also told me I'm very, very special to her, and always will be. She said I'm her one and only Andy-Roo, and that Amelie won't be her Andy. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy in my belly, and we held hands after that. Maybe Amelie will be cool to have around after all.

Finally, School Progress

2009-03-12T07:19:00.001-07:00

My mom was in tears last night when she tucked me in bed because I recited math to her. When I first started the 2nd grade I couldn't do my long addition very well, and even had trouble understanding short addition and subtraction. Last night I laid there telling her all my math answers that I worked out in my head. She couldn't believe it.... I have been concentrating better at school lately with my new medicine, and I think I'm learning more. My teacher says I'm learning much faster now. I felt very proud of myself last night and am excited about school again today :)

Nicknames

2009-03-12T07:09:00.001-07:00

I have been complaining for a while about how Sky has the nickname "Bear", and have asked Mommy and Daddy to call me an animal name, too. For two years they have called me Andy Roo instead of Andrew, so that has been my nickname. Mommy finally said "I know, Andrew! You are a Kanga Roo, Andy Roo!" It makes sense because I am tall, very strong and like to jump around a lot. I told Mommy that I want to be a kangaroo for Halloween because I can put all the candy in my tummy pouch instead of a bag! Anyway, keep calling me Andy Roo because I am a kangaroo!

My Pictures

2008-11-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

Mommy smiling at me

My dad makes a funny face before going to work

My brother, Sky

Our cat, Dooby

I took all these pictures with my very own camera!

My Chicago Trip

2008-07-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here I am at my Stephanie Auntie's house in Chicago last week. I was dressed as a witchy Hannah Montana. I loved spending time at her house with my cousins, Jonah and Zoe. Except sometimes I felt like I missed my brother, Sky....he was playing so much with Zoe that I thought she'd stolen him! It's taking me time to realize how permanent my family members are and that we can't exchange them out or have them stolen by anyone.

My 12 year old cousin, Jonah, had an awesome bug vacuum gun that I loved using. I think I caught 4-5 small bugs around the house with it, and I was able to release them outside. I'm begging my mom for one of those now!

Zoe let me play on her keyboard. She takes piano lessons...I had fun using my fiddly fingers to play around with all the buttons.

Ragini and I had fun with lots of other kids at the Bal Vikas reunion last weekend. I loved seeing everyone.

I was especially surprised to see Dharmik. I really love him and have missed him for a long time (he was my cute buddy at Bal Vikas). When we saw each other we hugged right away.

A nice lady named Deb painted my palms with Henna Mendhi designs...now I'm asking my mom to buy some for home. I loved the reunion and hope I get to go to more and more and more!

Oh, and my mom's friend from India says that yellow shirt with the Sanskrit writing and beads makes me look like I'm in an Indian Sadhu clan! ha ha! I think Sadhus are weird, but cool because they are nice people in India who give love and try to find God and nothing else, so I don't mind looking that way sometimes.

My Inner Oink

2008-06-17T06:42:00.001-07:00

I'm thinking about food a lot lately. Mommy says I'm starting to act more like my brother, Sky, about food. I used to have parasites in my tummy when I came home from India and I wouldn't eat food very well for over a year. Whenever it was dinner time I felt like it was hard work, and I dreaded it. It always took me over an hour to finish my plate. Since taking strong antibiotics I'm doing much better. Now I can't wait for meals, and I ask for food in between meals, and I eat fast.

When I walked into the grocery store with my parents on Sunday I ran up to an angel food cake and smelled it, talking about how delicious it looks and smelling through the package. Last night I started telling Mommy a memory of how I ate at Bal Vikas. I said "They used to make the food, but it wasn't like the food here. Their kitchen was different. It didn't taste very good and they stuck in into my mouth with their hands like this." I showed her how they shoved the food into my mouth with their fingers. I told her that I didn't like that and how they were cranky with all the kids. A lot of times I walked away and just didn't eat anything.
I am starting to love American food, especially cheese. When I first came home I hated all cheeses, then I only liked white cheeses and now I want all cheeses! I ate a bowl of shredded cheese last weekend and then went running on the track....that wasn't a good idea because I complained about having a sticky mouth while jogging. Cheese makes my mouth sticky. I always ask Mommy what is for lunch and dinner, and always ask her for snacks. I ate a vegetarian sloppy joe last week (which I used to hate) and loved it! I was moaning the whole time "mmmmmmmm" and ate it super fast....maybe I will start gaining weight soon. I grew a whole inch since May 9! Mommy calls me her tall, dark and handsome boy :-)

I'd better go eat some more.

When I Grow Up......

2008-06-09T07:48:00.001-07:00

My mom went to a teacher's supply store yesterday and got me some things that are so fun! I can pretend to be a teacher with both Boy's & Girl's Bathroom passes :-) and she got me some things teachers hang on the wall, like letters, pictures, and a Welcome to my class sign. I also got some lined cards to put kids names on so they know where to sit. My bedroom is almost always a classroom to me, and I love reading the kids stories, and having them line up for recess. I think it will help me be a good teacher some day, but I'm also thinking about being a nurse. My mom and dad say that I get to decide, and as long as it gives me a lot of happiness and I work very hard I can do it. The other day I talked about being a police man, but I didn't like the idea of having to carry a gun, so I decided not to do that. Maybe I will make ladies shoes....I'm still thinking about that, too.

Summer

2008-06-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

I love what Mommy did to my blog. The colors are pretty, and the Indian rangoli design is pretty. I love to draw designs like that all the time with chalk, crayons or paints. Patterns are one of my favorite things to draw. Green is my favorite color, so I'm glad there is a lot of green here (it reminds me of frogs and I really love them!)

I've been at a Summer Camp from 9-4:00 every day this week and I love it. I get to hang out at a park, playground, do crafts, and play games all day with friends. Many of them are from my school, and some are new friends. On Tuesday we played with water balloons, and yesterday we did a Slip 'n' Slide in our swimsuits. I love water play, and next week we'll start walking downtown to the pool. Next week is my last week of camp until we leave for Chicago. I'm hoping that in July I'll get to be part of the Art Center's Drama Camp for kids (I loved that over Spring Break!)

After being home for 16 months I'm starting to realize that my family really will love me no matter what, but I keep testing this. I keep trying to make sure of this because a part of me can't believe it. I'm also just starting to understand what love is and what it feels like. One day I asked my family "Why all this loving all the time?! Why 'I love you, you and you?' and all this hugging. It's weird!" Mommy says it's weird to me because people never said this to me or anyone else in India. I never really saw love, except when parents would come to get their kids and I felt jealous, wondering what it must feel like. I'm excited to have my family now and have people I can give my love to....

Yesterday, when Mommy walked me up to the playground at Summer Camp she was talking about checking in. We have to have my name checked in when I arrive. I felt like I was in India and I got scared. I told her I was scared, and then I said "It's so good you brought me home. Thank you, Mommy." My mom wasn't expecting me to say that because I usually just run and play when I get there, but yesterday I felt afraid and thought maybe someone would hurt me. I had to remind myself that I'm not in India any more. I'm getting better at doing that.

My Blooming Heart माय ब्लूमिंग हार्ट

2008-05-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

Last night I let out a lot of anger and sadness in my room. My therapist calls it an "anger session". I didn't like doing them at first, but now I'm more comfortable with it. Mommy stands in the corner of my room holding a timer while I get as mad as I want to, yelling, hitting and punching pillows. I have to draw pictures when the timer goes off and I usually draw pictures of my anger (monsters, blobs of black strings or fire). Yesterday I felt so good after the session that I drew this picture. I told Mommy that it's my heart opening up and that no one can keep my heart from blooming like that. It's beautiful and I can feel it. Mommy says she will keep this picture forever. Oh, and the girl I drew next to my heart is Mommy ;-)

ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ

My Camera is Alive!

2008-04-27T12:15:00.001-07:00

I washed my digital camera in the sink a few weeks ago. Oooops. I didn't know that electronics were not supposed to get washed in water. My camera didn't work for a long time, but Mommy took it apart and let it dry out. Today, she put it back together and it was working...wow!! She took a picture of me smiling about it because I was super, super happy. I love my camera!!

Me and My Brother

2008-03-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Here is another picture taken with my new camera. Sky Bear and I just got home from school, and he was wearing the "Cat in the Hat" hat that he made. Our principal, Mr. Cinnamon, dressed up as "Cat in the Hat" that day and the 6th graders read Dr. Seuss books to us. I made a paper cape and a lare belt buckle with an "S" on it to look like Superman. I love the idea of being Superman, and saving people. I told my mom last week that instead of being a teacher when I grow up, maybe I can be a policeman. After I told her that, I changed my mind and said I want to also be an Art teacher.....maybe I can do both?

Spring break is coming up in two weeks, and Mommy says I am enrolled in a special "Art & Drama Camp" at the Lawrence Arts Center. It is a 5 day camp where I will work on making costumes and the stage set for a play called "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"- it's for kindergarten, 1st & 2nd graders. I am SOOOO excited that I get to do this; Mommy & Daddy and maybe Grandma Lin will come watch me in my very first play (I love being on stage). My brother, Sky Bear, will be at the community center's Spring Break Camp where he can play sports and games, and go on field trips...what he likes the most.

MY NEW CAMERA!!

2008-02-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

First I got dressed to go to Kansas City for an India Night dinner and silent auction. I loved using my very own kids camera that really, really takes pictures!

Then our babysitter, Sarah, came to stay home with my brother, Liam. He has autism and isn't very happy in new places where there are a lot of people, so we all missed him a lot.

I took pictures of kids at the art tables (I loved that we had those!)

Here is the page I was working on. The paper was almost as big as me!

Here is Daddy eating the yummy Indian food with Grandma Lin and Grandpa Kent (they're both Mommy's parents). I had two plates of rice and curry, along with three vegetable pakoras.

I really liked this picture of Lord Krishna with his flute

Here is my sister, Sorin, sitting next to Grandma Laura. Isn't my sister pretty?

Here's me...I took my own picture.

The buffet table with Yoganandaji's picture

I think this is my favorite picture of him.

Here is the auction table. I don't understand what an "auction" is, but Mommy won a carved wooden "Namaste" sign from Tibet. The auction was getting money for the SRF Summer Youth Camp-- I think I'll be going to that camp someday.

Here is my happy Mommy smiling

Daddy gives a funny smile

Grandma Lin smiles at me, too

Grandpa Kent is smiling

Grandma Laura & Sorin enjoying their food

I love my sister, Sorin, and I LOVE my new camera!! Thank you for looking.

I am 8 Years Old Now!

2008-02-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest birthday pictures on Mom's blog HERE

Daddy's Gone and More...

2008-01-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

My Dad is out of town this week. He left Thursday to visit a place called Hidden Valley Ashram near San Diego, California, and we won't see him again until Monday morning. I miss him a lot, and my brother Sky was crying and crying about it. I want to cry, but haven't been able to. Instead, I had two very rough days at school on Wednesday and Thursday, and when I got home I cried about it. I couldn't sit and focus on my work at school and I even got mad at the teacher. I feel scared and nervous about Daddy being away- he's never been away from me like this before. Sky keeps worrying that Daddy will like the ashram more than his family and he will decide never to come home. Mommy says that could never happen....I know he's coming home, I just can't help feeling scared.

The good part about Daddy leaving is that I get more of Mommy to myself. She gave me extra time to play and read at bedtime and she snuggled next to me while I slept. Earlier she told me that if I were a little baby she'd wrap me up in a blanket and carry me wherever she goes. She seems sad because she never got to do this with me, so I got a blanket and wrapped myself up tight. I asked her to hold me like that on the sofa last night and I got to look up at her face. It was fun and I think it made Mommy happy, too. After that I wrote her a "love note" on one of my post-it note pads that says "Drew loves his mom. She is a beautiful mom." I was able to write all the words myself, except I needed some help spelling the big word, beautiful. I see Daddy writing her love notes all the time and I'm starting to do it, too! I also read her a whole book by myself called "Draw Me a Star". I think that is my new favorite.

I've been talking a lot more about my memories from Bal Vikas orphanage, and it's getting easier. I don't feel as upset each time I talk about it. I've talked about it at dinner and bed time, and I'm realizing that how I acted there was okay because they were mean to me. I used to feel bad all the time because of how I used to act there (angry, hitting and yelling). Now I know that I had a right to feel that way, and I can still feel mad about everything. I used to be so ashamed of myself, but now I think I was just being strong and protecting myself. Lately I feel mad that I'm from India and not America like most people are here..... I keep saying that I want to be from America and no more talk about me being from India any more, but Mommy tells me I will always be Indian American and I should be very, very proud (I used to be proud). Maybe some day I will learn to love India as much as Mommy does. I love the food, music, clothing, Diwali, and Indian art. I also love Krishna, Ganapati, and my guru Yogananda. I have to remember all these good things because they are a part of me.

My birthday is coming just 1 week from today, I'll be 8 years old!!! We'll have a party at home, and then go to an India Night dinner with our meditation group. We all get to dress Indian for it and I'm very excited. ॐ गुरु ॐ गुरु ॐ गुरु ॐ गुरु

My Little Update About Me

2008-01-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

-At school today we watched a movie about Martin Luther King, Jr. and I loved it a lot. I talked to Mommy about it at dinner tonight, and she was surprised by how much I understood. I explained that he was a great man who taught people not to be mean to others just because of their skin color. I was super-excited to share all about him because he taught us that all people are good, and deserve to sit at the front of buses. We learned about Rosie (Rosa) Parks. I kept asking Mommy why people used to be so mean that way, and she said that people can still be mean sometimes and that we have to stand up and be strong like Dr. King and Rosa taught us. I played out a scene where she was trying to get on a bus and I didn't let her sit in the front.....we did a pretend argument about it and I learned a lot. I told her that I think people who are mean to about skin color are just dumb, and that's what I will tell anyone that I hear acting that way! I asked if we could have cake for Dr. King's birthday, but Mommy says we are going to read a book about him and talk.

-For a long time I've been pretending that I can't do math when I'm at home. At school I do my math very well, but at home I like it when Mommy and Daddy help me...I don't want them to leave me to do my homework alone. Finally, the other night Daddy was helping me and he threatened to get up and leave the table if I didn't do the math so I had to show him what I knew. Mommy stood up in shock, yelling "Oh my!!!! He already knows addition AND subtraction!? Andrew, you've been lying to me!!" I felt badly, but I also laughed a little. I like playing "tricks" on people.

-I read a whole book to my Mom tonight, called "Hop on Pop". I was SO proud of myself, and I really love to read. I'm learning bigger and bigger words, and am able to read many posted signs on the walls at school. This makes my brother Sky so jealous that Mommy says she sees his eyes turn green. I told him that he will be reading as good as me very soon, but he still gets mad.

-Tonight I started trying to speak my first language, Marathi. I decided to do that because I was playing around with writing in cursive. I learned how to write in cursive at Yashodam school in India and I haven't done that for about 9 months because we don't do that in America at my age. This led me to writing in Hindi script, which I love. When I first came home Mommy gave me little booklets with Hindi writing in them and I copied those tonight....I'm very good at it and kept telling everyone how easy it is(I wanted them to join me in trying it). I explained that the alphabet is very different, and that each symbol makes different sounds that are not like English. Finally, I was ready to start talking in my Indian language. I think this was hard because I've forgotten a lot of it, but many words came back to me and I was sharing them with my family. Mommy snuggled with me at bed time and I gave her a short Marathi lesson. She told me that my therapist, Sangeeta, knows Marathi and can help me remember some more words on Wednesday. I was SO EXCITED about this that I was cheering!!

I won, I won! इ वों! इ वों!

2007-12-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

I won an award at school this week! It's called the PRO Award (People Respecting Others). The Life Skill for December was Citizenship. I wasn't sure was that word meant, but my teacher says it's when I work to make my school and town better, cooperate, follow rules, and protect the earth. Only one person wins in each class every month. I am VERY proud of myself. I told Mommy that I'm so happy that people know what a kind and helpful boy I am.

Fun Pumpkin Slime

2007-11-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

I had lots of fun today because my brother and I got to pull the "slimy" out of our old Halloween pumpkins. At first I kept saying "This is disgusting! Eeeeewwww! Gross, this is SLIMY!!" But after a few scoops I started enjoying it. Mommy baked the seeds and they were soooo very yummy! She placed flowers inside our pumpkins and we'll use them to decorate our Thanksgiving dinner table tomorrow. I think I'm liking Thanksgiving so far... I do have a lot that I'm thankful for, and I keep telling Mommy "Thank you for coming to get me in India." I can't stop thanking her for that today (I think I've said it ten times!)

Even though I like being home, I don't think I like it that school is closed today, tomorrow, and Friday. I felt nervous about it at school yesterday because it's a change from what I'm used to. I keep looking out our windows at the school, wondering why no one is there today. Why is Thanksgiving so important? Mommy says I'll be home for 5 whole days! I love going to school, so this will be kind of hard for me. I guess I'll get out the Play-Doh (I don't call it "potato" any more!) and play with it for hours :-) My favorite things to make out of Play-Doh are foods like spaghetti, sangliches (sandwiches), and cookies. Ok, that's all I want to say for now.

My First Concert!

2007-11-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

I've had a long, 4-day weekend because of conferences at my school. Last night Mommy took me to my first music concert and I LOVED it! It was "Vera, Chuck & Dave" and they sing Beatles songs with Indian instruments. I saw them play sitar and tablas, and I danced in my seat. The night was a special Date-night for me and my mom.

My favorite song is "Here Comes the Sun". I ask Mommy to play that on our stereo 3-4 times a day. Here are the words:

Here Comes The Sun
(George Harrison)

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darlin' I feel the ice is slowly meltin'
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been clear
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right

Mommy says I probably like the song because of the words. I especially like it when they say "It's all right!" My life is all right, and everything is good now. One other song I LOVED at the concert was "End of the Line" because they say "It's all Right" through the whole song:

End Of The Line
(George Harrison)

It's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, doing the best you can
Well it's all right, as long as you lend a hand
You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring
Waiting for someone to tell you everythingS
it around and wonder what tomorrow will bring
Maybe a diamond ring

Well it's all right, even if they say you're wrong
Well it's all right, sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it's all right, As long as you got somewhere to lay
Well it's all right, everyday is Judgment Day

Maybe somewhere down the road aways
You'll think of me, wonder where I am these days
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays Purple haze

Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove
Well it's all right, if you got someone to love
Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line

Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive
I'm glad to be here, happy to be alive
It don't matter if you're by my side I'm satisfied

Well it's all right, even if you're old and gray
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive
Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line

If you go here: http://www.verachuckanddave.org/ and click on their My Space link you can sample some of their music. I hope Mommy takes me to more concerts because I am fascinated with all the different instruments.

My New Costume

2007-10-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Out of all the Halloween costumes I saw at three different stores, a Doctor costume was the only one I wanted. Mommy will be shopping for a kids doctor kit this week and I'm very excited about it! I already played doctor with my brother...."Dr. Peebles at your service!"

My October post माय अक्तूबर पोस्ट

2007-10-27T11:23:00.001-07:00

I had a GREAT day at school yesterday, earning a red "Kindness Ribbon" and a "Compliment" link to put on my class's chain. If we get enough compliments we get to have another class party :-)

I haven't written in a long time, but wanted to share that I went to Aikido today and the teacher told me I did the best job ever. Then Daddy took me jogging around the high school track. I still LOVE to run and feel like I can run forever.

Mommy got me a new pair of black cowboy boots that I wear all over the house. I never want to take them off because I feel like Mommy in them. They make me taller, too. I wanted to wear them to Aikido and jogging, and I don't know why Mommy and Daddy laughed about this. Jogging in them would be fun, but they made me wear my running shoes(phooey!)

Last night I told Mommy I wanted to be Austin Powers for Hallowen. She says most of my classmates won't know who I am if I do that because it's not really an appropriate movie for little kids.....maybe next year I'll do it! I like dancing like him and saying "Oh, Behave!!" I also asked to be a police officer for Halloween, but I talked too much about hurting other people while in my uniform....I talked a lot about wanting the gun(I think officers are mean). Mommy says I'll have to pick something else(phooey again!) Maybe I'll be Harry Potter because he wears glasses like me.....that might be fun. I'm still trying to understand this strange American holiday, and I can't wait for all the candy!

Still Smiling स्टील स्मिलिंग

2007-09-27T09:05:00.001-07:00

I am feeling very calm and secure lately. Because of this I have recieved five "green days" in a row at school! This means that my name(on a clothes pin) was not moved to the yellow or red for naughty behavior....it stayed on green because I listened respectfully and quietly to the teacher, kept my hands off of others, and completed my work quietly.

I don't know why I feel more secure at home and school lately. I will probably have some insecure days again because I'm still getting used to being here, being loved and getting to know how life in America works. Some days I just have old, mean memories come into my head and I feel terrible about myself.....that really gets me hyper and nervous. I don't like that because I want to make people proud of me.

Yesterday Sky had his 6th birthday and we had a small family party here at home. When I walked in the door after school I saw all the gifts sitting on our dining table. I was very emotional about it and ran to Mommy, crying very hard. At first Mommy thought I was jealous but I kept telling her "No, no. I am not jealous. I am so happy for Sky. I am so happy that he gets to have a birthday! I am crying because I am so happy." I really felt surprised and touched by how much attention was given to Sky and all the gifts he had. I know they will do this for me again and it makes me feel loved and valued. Seeing how loved he is helps me know how loved I am, too.

After crying about that, Sky walked up to me and gave me a big hug. He was crying, too, saying how much he wants to share his birthday with me. He told me I could open one of the presents and I think that was very kind. This weekend we have a bowling party for Sky and I hope Mommy and Daddy show me how to bowl because I do not understand the funny game.

Happiness

2007-09-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share that I had a GREAT day at school yesterday. I earned 6 stickers and got a prize at the end of the day. I listened well and sat quietly most of the day and I'm very proud of myself.

Mommy and Daddy have been telling me every day how proud they are of me, even if I have a hard day. On those days where I didn't do so well at school I was so surprised Mommy hugged me and loved me anyway. I kept asking her why she was doing that and she said that I am still a very good boy, and she loves me no matter what. I am telling myself this now all the time...."I am a good boy! I have always been a very good boy!" and I think I mean it. Mommy and Daddy love to hear me say it, and I love it when they are proud of me(it's what I want more than anything).

Last night, after Mommy tucked me in bed and left my room I cried. I cried alone because I wanted to snuggle with Mommy some more and I thought about how much I love her. It made me cry a long time. When I told Mommy I did this last night she grabbed me with a bug hug and said to never, ever feel like I have to cry alone. I am used to waiting until everyone is gone to cry because I cried alone in India. I am not used to crying with others, but I promised Mommy that next time I will come to her and let her hold me when I cry. She even said that she would love to do this. I was so happy about this new idea that I talked to her about at again when I walked out the door for school. I was smiling very big because I really don't have to feel alone any more.

I think I'm going to have a super-good day at school today :-)

Wanting Friends

2007-09-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

I had a very good day at school yesterday. I earned 4 stickers, but needed 6 to get a prize at the end of the day. I'm hoping to earn one today.

I've been having many days with problems at school; talking too much and not listening to my teacher. In the mornings I really try hard and usually do well, but later in the day I start feeling nervous and can't help getting up from my seat and talking a lot. I even got bossy one day with my teacher and I felt terrible about it.

When I'm feeling worry, emotional hurt, or nervousness I get restless and can't sit still even if I try to. I am very frustrated with myself. I talk to Mommy about it every day after school and she understands me. I cry about it to her and she holds me. Last night I talked a lot about how I feel bad for not having friends at school. This really bothers me a lot because it makes me remember when I didn't have a family.

When I was at Bal Vikas I felt unloved and unwanted for not having a family, and now I feel the same way about not having friends. I see everyone around me having fun with each other, but I feel like no one wants to play with me. I feel left out and cast aside just like I used to and it makes me jumpy in class. A lot of the time I am just working hard to cover up my tears....if I stop moving around and talking the tears might come like they do at home.

I try to make friends, but I think I may be too pushy and bossy about it. The kids don't always understand what I'm trying to say either, so that makes it more difficult. This morning I stood outside the classroom door greeting all the kids and patting them on the back as they entered. Most of them didn't acknowledge me even though I'm smiling and very happy to see them. Maybe I'm too loud, or I surprise them too much. Mommy says I am going to learn many social skills that will help me learn how to make friends. This is SO important to me and I don't think I will start having good days at school until I feel like I have a friend who likes me. Mommy and Daddy say it will take time, but I can't wait.....my whole life has been about waiting and I'm tired of it. "It's makes me clanky!"(cranky)

My week

2007-09-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is my dog, Boomer. I really love him a lot, and I think he looks funny yawning in this picture!

I am very happy to be back at school this week after a nice weekend. I went on a 3 mile walk with Daddy on Saturday and then he took me to my first Aikido class. We attended Unity church on Sunday and I really love going there because everyone is so nice and happy.

Last night I went to my second Aikido class and my teacher taught us how to do more breathing exercises and meditate quietly. He talked about how we are a part of everything and then we had some wild fun running around on the soft mats. I really like Aikido and was disappoined to have to wait until Saturday to go again.

Sky has his first soccer practice tonight and I'm going to watch him. I asked Mommy why I am not playing and she said it's a kindergarten league. She says I'll be doing Aikido and also guitar lessons!

I like our cooler weather because I will get to wear a jacket. When I wear jackets to school I like them so much that I NEVER take them off. I wish I had a jacket on "every, every day!" Well, that's my small update for now.

2007-09-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I wrote in my blog. I wanted Mommy to take my picture this morning, so here it is! When I first saw it I said "I like that picture of me." For a long time I didn't like looking at myself in pictures, but I'm getting used to it. Mommy gave me copies of my baby pictures to play with and now I think I'm a really cute boy.

I listened to the Indian Gayatri mantra a lot today. It's the mantra of Light. Daddy sung it to me a week ago and I froze, staring into space because I remembered it from India. They sung that mantra on the intercom at my Yashodam school every morning and I love it. I ask Daddy to sing it often. You can listen to it here on a website Mommy helped me find.

My brother, Sky, sat and listened to the chant with me but I told him he's not Indian and that he needs a Guatemalan chant. Mommy got upset with me and said, "Andrew, Sky has listened to this chant since he was a baby. We do not have to be from India to love these chants. I am not from India, so do you think I can listen to it?" I thought she was kidding and I said "Yes you are, Mommy! You are from India, too." Mommy later asked me why I thought she was from India and I told her "Because you look Indian to me, Mommy!" Mommy said that was a very nice thing to say, but that she's really from America. She has relatives from Ireland, England and France. She tells me her spirit might have lived in India long ago, in another body, because the chants have always felt familiar. I'm happy we get to listen to them together.

Happy Times हैप्पी तिमेस

2007-08-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

While in Los Angeles, Ragini called me her Hanuman. Here is a picture of him. I told Mommy and Daddy that I like that nickname.

My first full week at school was very fun, and I think I like everyone in my class. There are some kids from China, Mexico and India, and even some Native American kids. I really love going to recess two times a day, and sometimes I see Mommy outside of our house.

Last night I asked Mommy if I could curl up and pretend I was a baby in her belly. She laid with me before falling asleep and let me curl up against her tummy. Later she told me that Sky and I came out of her heart, so that makes us very special children. I was curious about how babies come out of tummies and Mommy explained it well......it was weird, but it made me laugh, and I think ladies must be very strong to be able to do that!

Today I've been making lots of drawings of me with Mommy inside of my belly. I started drawing that image a lot last week, and I always make a smile on my face with tears coming out of my eyes. I don't understand why I draw the tears.....maybe I'm happy and sad at the same time. Mommy says that I am a part of her, and she is a part of me. This feels true to me and the picture helps me see it. The whole drive to church this morning I kept thanking Mommy and Daddy for going all the way to India for me. Mommy gets tears in her eyes and always says "Thank YOU, Andrew, for coming home with us and making us so happy."

I Saw My Ragini

2007-08-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Me and my India-sister, Ragini

I was SO HAPPY to see my Ragini again after coming to America! The last time I saw her was 7 months ago in New Delhi, India. At first I was afraid that she would not want to talk to me very much, that she may not like me, or remember when we used to hit each other a lot at Bal Vikas. But when we saw each other it was so much fun! We hugged and played a lot, and went swimming together. Ragini is a lot shorter than me and I watched her closely in the pool. She is my girl, and I love her very much. I hope we get to see each other again soon.

I loved going to Los Angeles with Mommy because I had her all to myself. We played a lot in the hotel room, especially at bedtime. We pretended the sheet was our tent, played with a balloon, played picture dominoes, snuggled, and she tickled me a lot. Last night I asked her where she learned how to give tickles because I had never heard of tickles before meeting her and Daddy. I LOVE tickles, and Mommy showed me how to give her some.

Now that I'm home I have my first full week of school and I love it. I am a very good boy in my classroom and am learning how to read. Since I am starting over in 1st grade the math is easy, and I finally feel good about myself being able to do math. Math is fun now. I am having trouble at home adjusting to not being at Mommy's side all the time like I was in Los Angeles. I really want to be next to her all the time now. She played footsie with me under the dinner table and it made me laugh last night.... Mommy said that if she was seven years old like me we'd be best friends. I told her "Yes! You would be my very best friend to play with." Then she said, "But remember, I am your Mommy first." I still don't know why she loves me so much.....she said something like I am a very funny and nice boy, and that being with me gives her happiness. Sometimes I agree with her about myself, and other times I feel different, but she must be right because she doesn't lie to me.

The past two days at school I go up to the fence in the field at recess and call for my mom to wave at me from our windows. She waves and I go play some more, but I like the feeling that she is right there next to me all day.

Drawing & Work with Daddy

2007-08-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Mommy took my photo tonight while I drew many pictures. I am going to work with Daddy tomorrow and I will be able to pretend to be an attorney like him. I asked Mommy if there was a suit and tie I could wear, but I don't have one. Instead, I said that I will dress in a very nice shirt and slacks so that I look nice. Daddy is meeting with a client, then he'll take me to lunch and maybe out for an ice cream. Sky will stay home with Mommy, so it's my special day with just Daddy tomorrow! I'm bringing all the artwork I created tonight so that I can carry lots of papers like Daddy :-)

Summer Time

2007-07-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Yay! My Summer camp is over now and I am going to California in 19 days. I will see my Ragini, have Mommy all to myself, and visit my guru's home at a place called Mount Washington. I will be able to see the bed where he slept and I asked Mommy if I could sleep in it, but this won't happen. We get to walk on the grass that he did, and see trees he planted. Also, I am in a movie we'll see there! It sounds like the best trip in the world to me and 19 days is too far away. I keep trying to pack for it, but Mommy makes me unpack my bag because it's too early :-(

Daddy is gone for this weekend because he's taking a class in Missouri. I miss him a lot. Last night I almost cried about it in bed. Sky is sad that Mommy will be leaving in August with me, and I think he's angry. This morning he tried to hurt me on the stairs, and he's yelling at me and Mommy a lot this week. Daddy will be taking him to Worlds of Fun when we're gone, but he's still jealous. Sky says he is going to a better place than me in August because they have rides and rollercoasters, but I just say that I don't like places like that. I think that makes him more angry. I will try to hug him a lot today.

NOTE: I decided today that I want to dress up as a Police Officer for Halloween! I decided this because police officers help people and they are nice. Mommy and Daddy will be looking for my costume soon. Today I am wearing a button up shirt that I tucked into my pants because I'm pretending to be an officer today :-) I even put on my belt and am wearing a cap, crossing my arms to protect my family. Sky said he wants to be an officer with me....that will be fun!

My Guru मय गुरू

2007-07-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

This picture is hanging over my bed.

I was finally able to attend a children's SRF(Self-Realization Fellowship) Sunday school service with the nice Kansas City Meditation Group. We have a small meditation group here in Lawrence, but only Mommy and Daddy can go to that. In Kansas City they have a room with a small children's altar and chairs set up like they are in Mommy & Daddy's meditation chapel. We sung chants to our guru, said prayers, and had a visiting monk named Brahmachari Lee from SRF in Los Angeles who was very nice to me. He was eating a piece of yummy pie and I kept looking at it, licking my lips. Finally I told him that it looks like good pie and he gave it to me! Nothing seems to make me more happy than pie.

Brahmachari Lee talked to us about how the guru helps us to get back home to God. When we got home I kept talking about this and how "he gives me God." I kept looking at all his books on our bookshelf saying, "When can I read these? I want to read what he says, Mommy." But I think I will have to wait until I'm a teenager to understand a lot of it. I want to keep going back to Kansas City so we can learn more at the Sunday service. Mommy said she will try to take us once a month.

Last night we had our weekly family kirtan where we all play instruments and sing songs to our guru in the family room. I played my new guitar, Mommy played bells, and Daddy and Sky played drums. It's one of my favorite family activities and I think Yoganandaji liked how we played for him. I always say that he was with me in India, watching over me, and that he brought Mommy and Daddy to get me. I wanted to put a picture of him on my blog today.

Long Summer

2007-07-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

This is the park my Summer Camp is at in downtown Lawrence. The 2nd picture is the recreation building where we eat lunch and do arts & crafts.

My Summer has been very, very long. I keep saying "My Summer last such a long time!!! When I go in August to see Ragini? When I start school at my new Cordley?" I am having a lot of fun at my Summer Day Camp, but I miss Mommy all day and I get very tired outside. We've gone on field trips to a bakery, ice cream shoppe, movie theatre, nature center, and swimming pools. This Thursday they're throwing a Mexican Fiesta and we'll be having yummy Mexican food for lunch. The heat gets so bad outside that we go into the community building for basketball, and red rover games.

Today, Mommy took Sky to the small wading pool at the same park as my Summer Camp. I got to see them, give hugs and shout "hello!" Mommy says she was looking all over for me and got worried because so many Camp kids were playing outside and she couldn't see me. I was in a small building doing my favorite arts & crafts. I was busy making Sky a lizard out of beads.

Yesterday I finally figured out how to pump my swing all by myself, with no one pushing me. I went soooooo high! It was all I could talk about when I came home yesterday, and I showed Mommy and Sky how I do it this morning when they dropped me off.

Some mean kids at camp made fun of my last name yesterday and I don't know why. Daddy says it happened to him a lot when he was growing up and Mommy says kids who do that are not worthy of being my friends. I cried to Mommy about it when I got home and I felt a lot better. Today when I arrived at camp I said "I have three really nice friends at camp, and that's all I need." If other kids want to be mean "I just have to ignore them because they're boring."(boring is a word I like to use a lot)

Mommy says temperatures are going to be in the 100's next week and I may stay home from camp. This makes me smile :-) I think I've had enough time outdoors, and I'd like to work on homework again...... Mommy can help me try to read and write some more.

I was told that I have been home for exactly "1/2 a year" today. That's 6 months, and I don't know what that really means. It feels almost like I have always been here...... my memories from India are feeling far away, and I am talking about them less. One memory I keep talking about is the feeling of being all alone. I really, really missed my Mommy in India. So many memories are fading away, but the memory of that feeling might never leave.

When I go to bed at night I don't need to know exactly what is going to happen the next day. I used to talk through the whole schedule for my next day so I'd be prepared for everything, but I stopped doing that a while ago(6 weeks ago), and I don't know why. Instead, I have Mommy do my fluffy fish puppet...she makes him talk to me, tell me how smart and beautiful I am, he burps, then starts tickling me and I kiss his big fish-lips. This along with hugs are all I need for bedtime now.

Drawing Inside Out

2007-07-09T18:36:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken the 2nd day Mommy & Daddy visited me at Bal Vikas. I recently asked them why they came and visited twice before taking me forever because I thought they weren't sure they wanted me. This broke Mommy's heart, and she explained that BV just wouldn't allow her to take me yet. She said that she knew from the first moment we looked into each other's eyes that I was her boy. Mommy says this picture hardly looks like me any more(I was so skinny and had bumpy dry skin, but I was soooooo happy!)

I made a drawing last night for Mommy and she really loved it. I would post it here for everyone to see if I could. Mommy says it shows that I'm making progress expressing my feelings.

The picture is of me with a heart shaped head, crying very hard with a lot of tears. Even though I'm crying with my glasses on I drew a smile on my face. Sometimes I feel both happy and sad-- I was so sad in India, and I'm very happy at home. I have sad memories of loneliness and hurt, but I have so much fun and love now.

Above myself, I drew smaller figures of my daddy, mommy, and me holding hands with big smiles. Mommy said it was a very "feeling" drawing and she was proud of me. It's taking me some time, but I'm starting to enjoy expressing how I feel, even when it's bad. It's been hard to open up because I used to get in trouble for doing this and I really had no one who cared. Each day I can feel how much my whole family loves me.

Today when Mommy picked me up from camp she said that she missed me all day. I asked her why she missed me just to hear her wonderful answer, "Because I love being with you, and you were gone all day." I'm special to her and I'm beginning to think she may be right....I am a special boy. When my friends saw my Mommy at camp I took her around to all of them proclaiming proudly(and loudly) "This is MY Mom! She is MY Mom!" I think she is special, too :-)

Thoughts थौघ्ट्स

2007-07-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

Picture from a video clip of me playing a small guitar for the very first time (I LOVE GUITARS!)

My cousins, Zoe & Jonah

Sky, Zoe & Jonah having cupcakes at zoe's Aquatic Center birthday party

Well, we finally went on our family vacation and had a lot of fun together. It was a long, long drive (about 5 hours), and we stopped to meet my other Grandma for the first time....she's Daddy's mom, Grandma Rosalee. We had lunch with her before driving to our hotel.

I walked into the hotel room that my parents strangely called a "bed and breakfast" and I didn't understand why we only had two rooms and a bathroom. I thought we would have the entire house to ourselves (which was very big), but we only had the two bedrooms, a fireplace, dining area, and bathroom. It was nice, though, and my brother and I played a lot with the fun pillows on our bed...it as our very first pillow fight.

When we went to the place they call "Silver Dollar City" I wanted to leave. It felt like we entered a whole other planet, with strange sounds, people and smells I wasn't used to. I didn't understand why the train that rode through was so loud and blew its horn all the time. We had to ride the train and I wanted to get off because we stopped to watch some men in overalls put on a short play with guns and funny hats. I couldn't understand their English at all, and I thought they were scary. I had to ride one rollercoaster that made me cry, and later I threw up from all the stress. Mommy kept hugging me and telling me that she will keep me safe, but I just kept asking to leave the place forever. I don't understand why people think a place like that is fun.

I LOVED going to the big water park called "White Water". There was a giant wave pool and I wore a swim vest that helped me stay up. I also loved the water slides, and I got to ride them with Mommy and Daddy. I think family vacations are fun sometimes, especially when we go out to eat a lot and spend so much time together. I hope they never take me to a rollercoaster again. I asked Mommy yesterday if she loves rollercoasters, and I was happy she said that she could do without them.

Before we left for Branson my cousins Zoe and Jonah visited us in Lawrence. I got to meet Stephanie-Auntie (my mom's sister) and my Uncle Lars. We all went to dinner one night, and then had Zoe's birthday party at our indoor aquatic center. I loved meeting them, and can't believe how big my whole family is. I don't understand why Stephanie is my aunt, Lars is my uncle, and why I have cousins. I also don't understand why my sister, Sorin, calls Daddy "Daniel"and not "Daddy"...... I know she has another dad, but it's so confusing to me. I asked Mommy why she calls him Daddy "Daniel" and not "Daddy" but she says it's because he's not her dad! She says he's her "husband", but I don't know what that means. I'm having so much trouble making sense of the world, and I don't even know what my role is in the family. I'm my parent's son, but will I someday become their father or grandfather? Will Mommy be a little girl when I'm all grown up? I ask all these questions, but get nowhere.

I need to know all the answers because I'm so deeply insecure about this world, and what could happen to me. I don't understand why my Chihuahua isn't growing any more (he's SO tiny!), and why there are other families across the street that I won't ever be a part of. Mommy says that I didn't learn all this stuff in India because I was in an orphanage without a family, but that it will all make sense as I get older. But who or what will I be when I'm older?!

All I know is that right now I am very happy, and feel so loved. I'm even starting to love myself. I bumped my head on a doorknob yesterday, and when I touched my head I said "I give it love, I give it love to make me better." This is big progress for me, as I usually keep hitting my head afterward, or feel badly about myself. I even said that I love my head, and Mommy said it is beautiful. I think she's right.

My Update मय अपडेट

2007-06-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

We are leaving for my first family vacation in three days! I am so very excited and keep talking about it all day, every day. I am also about to meet my Stephanie-Auntie (my mommy's sister) and Uncle Lars when they visit us on Wednesday. They are bringing their two children, my cousins Jonah and Zoe. Jonah is 11, and Zoe is almost 7 like me. I love being around kids my own age!

Mommy got me my first pair of flip-flops today and I am wearing them all over the house (I have been begging/whining for a long time for them). Like my legs, my toes are long like monkey toes, so they stay perfectly on my feet. My brother, Sky, has smaller toes and has trouble wearing them.....I think he's cranky (clayngee) in flip-flops because he can't win races.

I spent all weekend playing with my brother and when he went to Summer camp today I spent most of my time in quiet, alone. Mommy took me to the store and out to lunch, but when I was home I just wanted to be in quiet by myself, playing or drawing. It feels good to have quiet, alone time because I don't think I ever had that in India. I spent 15 minutes in our prayer room just listening to meditation music, and when my brother came home he got mad at me because I didn't feel ready to play with him. I gave him almost all my car stickers (Mommy got them at the dry cleaners), but he was still upset with me. Sometimes I wish I had my very own bedroom.

I'm starting to feel very secure and loved lately. I think I've been home for a long time now (5 months), and I am staring to say "I was in India a very long, long, long time ago." It feels like another lifetime now. I still want to go back and visit India when I grow up......Daddy thinks I may change my mind, but I think I am far too curious not to. I want to know everything about everyone, and someday I may feel the same about myself. I'm a lot like Curious George and I know he'd want to go back. :-)

Maybe my next post I can share about my trip to Silver Dollar City and White Water. I keep asking if we can just walk there because I don't like riding in cars, but Mommy says it's too far away. That makes me cranky (or as I say "clayngee")......I like to walk.

Family

2007-06-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my Daddy and Mommy taken the very first day they met me in India. They are standing at the entrance of the orphanage and are VERY excited to see me. I'm inside, and feeling happy and nervous. It was the very best day of my whole life.

I am so excited because Daddy and Mommy told me we are leaving for a fun place called Branson in eight days. We leave on the 28th, and I talk about it all day, every day. When I wake up I always ask if it's the 28th yet, and I ask Mommy to show me what day it is on our big calendar. It is just taking too long to leave!

My Mommy said this place called Branson has a lot of fun places to for children, and that we're staying in two rooms in a nice house called a Bed & Breakfast. They showed me pictures of it the computer and I was most happy about their swimming pool. I guess we're going to live there for three days and then come back home. I keep asking and making sure that we're really going to come back home because I don't ever want to leave. They tell me it's called going on a "family vacation" but I just don't understand what it is, and why families do it. Mommy says it's to have fun and make memories, but don't we do that every day?

This morning before my brother went to Summer camp we played together. At first, Sky wanted to play with cars, but I wanted to play "school". I like to be the teacher, and talk to all my students. I've told Mommy many times that I want to be a teacher when I grow up, so it's good practice! I make up names for all the students and pretend that they are asking me questions, and sometimes I have to scold them for not listening. Today I wore a purse because I was pretending to be a lady teacher and Sky laughed at me. He just doesn't understand how I like to do things, and most teachers I've seen are ladies anyway.

Oh, and another trip my Mommy told me about will happen in August. I'm starting school in August, but first I will go with her to Los Angeles and will get to see my Ragini again. We are meeting there to watch a movie together with Sarah Talreja. At first I thought we would see a fun kids movie like "Cars", but Mommy explained that it's a movie about Bal Vikas and that I am in it, along with many other children I know. This is interesting to me, but I think it will be like when I watch family videos with me in them, and I love doing that. I am most excited to see Ragini again and keep talking about her. I've made her drawings and even asked if her and I could share a room together (but Mommy says she'll be close to our room and that made me smile).

Mommy was hugging me yesterday and I touched her heart asking "I am in your heart?" Then I touched my heart and said "You always in my heart, and so is Ragini."

About Me

2007-06-18T08:51:00.001-07:00

I am home alone with Mommy for another week! The Summer seems to be lasting forever, and I keep asking when I will be able to start Summer camp. Mommy says July, but I have trouble understanding how far away that is.

Mommy and Daddy have noticed that I like to give things away that are very important to me, and they've started getting concerned. They told me I don't have to give my things away because I deserve those things. Sometimes I just want other people to love me (this seems to be my main desire in life), and if I give people things they think I'm nice. I'm also not used to having things, and maybe I don't feel comfortable with them.

I also like to do favors for people, which is very nice. Mommy says the problem can be when others take advantage of me......like when Sky lets me clean up our whole room when we're supposed to do it together, or when he tells me to go upstairs and get him things. I do so much for others that it can be a problem if I take it too far. Mommy says we're going to work on learning self-love and self-respect so that I can see when others take advantage of my kindness. It's a hard lesson because I really need others to like me, and to feel like a good person. Mommy says it's more important that I learn to give myself those things so that when I do help others it's sincere, and not overdone. Mommy says I'm a Helper in the Enneagram personality system.....I don't understand any of that weird stuff, and don't really care about it. I just want everyone to love me :-)

My Video

2007-06-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mommy filmed me a lot with our new, tiny video camera. I had fun watching myself after each clip, and I enjoy sharing what my Summer day was like. Please view it here!

This week थिस वीक

2007-06-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my 5 year old brother, Sky, at his preschool. He will be starting kindergarten with me at Cordley Elementary in August and I am so excited to be there with him. We are really starting to love each other a lot and we miss each other when we are apart. Sky was cranky this morning about going to his Summer camp because he's away from me all day. When he came home yesterday we both smiled and winked at each other, and played until bedtime. Mommy says we're both "air signs" (whatever that means) and that we will probably always be best buddies.

Today my older sister and brother started a special Summer school, and with Sky at camp I am the only child home with Mommy during the day. I get restless and Mommy has to help me find fun things to do like leggos, art projects, dancing to music, and trips to the park. This morning I went with her to the doggy daycare to get our big dog, Emily, shaved for Summer. I got to pet some other dogs that I loved.... I have really grown to love animals since coming to America, and I am very gentle with them. When I first got here I was so afraid of all four of our pets, but now I hug them all the time.

When I'm home alone with Mommy I start talking a lot about Bal Vikas and my memories. I had some strange ones today and Mommy didn't believe me at first. I got upset about it, and then she finally believed me. I hit my head a lot, and I hit it very hard. I used to hit it more than I do now, but Mommy and Daddy have helped me learn how to start loving my body. I have memories of being hit in the face and head a lot in India. Today I remembered singing loudly and getting into trouble for it. I used to yell and scream a lot, too, and Mommy thinks that's why I have chronic hoarseness in my throat (sometimes I even lose my voice and have to stop talking for a while). She says I may have 'vocal nodules' (wockel notchels as I say it) in my throat, but that they'll go away when I am a big teenager. I just can't stop asking Mommy why I lived at Bal Vikas for such a long time.....it confuses me, and I even feel angry sometimes. Mommy says I'll understand it when I get older.

I talk a lot about being older, and I'm excited about it even though I whine about wanting to be a tiny baby in Mommy's arms. Today I said "Mommy, I will grow and grow to become taller than you and then we will be together but you will be the child and I will be the daddy." I will probably be taller than her, but she says grown ups can't become children. Who will be my children?! Life is so very confusing to me.

I also want to learn how to write soon. I keep pretending to write letters and stories, and yesterday, all by myself, I wrote a full sentence: Sky likes to play the drums. Mommy was so surprised and freaked out! She has never seen me write like that, and she thinks I have been hiding some of my knowledge to be able to do that (she did not teach me how to write any of those words, except 'Sky'). She says I am going to be reading and writing very soon. I asked her if I could start writing Ragini, my India sister, an e-mail soon..... I really, really want to write her a lot about my life and what I'm doing because I love and miss her. Mommy says I can write her as much as I want to as soon as I learn.... She is teaching me more spelling words today and it's only a matter of time!

ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ

Call me Andrew, Please!

2007-06-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

I want to be called Andrew now, and I'm happy my Mommy and Daddy are trying to call me that this weekend. Prasad is an old name from India, and I got the name at a hospital when I was very tiny. I don't even know the person who gave me that name, but Mommy says it is beautiful like me. I just want a new name like my new family, and new America.

Daddy says I am "deeply perceptive". I cannot even say the words, and when I try I say "deeply sepretrive". He says it means that I am very aware of my life and things around me and that I think deeply about them (I did this with my name situation). I may be a philosopher or poet, or as I say "philopfer or ploet" where I can write about all my thoughts and feelings. I am trying every day to learn how to spell new words and I learn them fast. Mommy gave me a journal like hers so that I can write in it someday. Maybe I will write a book about my life!

I am understanding so much English now, but Mommy smiles or laughs about some of my words. I like making her laugh, so I will say them over and over. An example is "schmimm-shoot" for swim suit. Mommy kept saying it that way at the pool yesterday and I don't hear what the problem is, but I enjoy the smiles and attention.

Memories & Questions मेमोरिएस & क़ुएस्तिओन्स्

2007-06-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

I'm having fun at home with Mommy this Summer while my brother, Sky goes to Summer camp every day. I will be attending Summer camp in July while he stays home. I will be swimming this Friday and I can't wait! Mommy got me a swimming mask and I want to wear it in the water.

I've been sharing a lot of India memories with Mommy and Daddy this week. A lot of them are hard to talk about, but my parents just hug me and tell me that everything is okay now. I used to get so nervous thinking about those memories that I'd get hyper and run around, or just not talk at all. Now I can just say what I want whenever I think about it and I don't get too upset. It's so nice that I can share things and not feel alone ever again.

Yesterday I was very confused because I asked Mommy when my sister Sorin came home to her family. I didn't understand because she said Sorin grew inside her tummy and came out as a tiny baby. I have never heard of this and I thought it was very weird. The more I thought about it, the more upset I got. I yelled, "Why I not in your tummy, Mommy?! I want to get in there, too!" Mommy said some babies are inside their Mommy's tummies, while others live in their hearts. She said Sky and I were in her heart for a very long time and it is a beautiful way to come to your Mommy. She told me she would explain more when I am older, but I want to understand now! I was whining a lot.

टिम विथ मोम्म्य Time With Mommy

2007-05-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

I had BIG fun with Mommy today! Sorin and Liam are with their dad in Kansas City for a few days, and Sky goes to school in the afternoons so I have Mommy all to myself for the first time ever.

She took me to India Palace for lunch today and when I walked in the door the smells made me smile. Oh, they were so good! I remember those smells, and I went straight for the chicken pakoras, rice & vegetable korma that I still love so much. I also had two bowls of fruit, pudding, and two cups of warm chai tea.

I also went on a tour of our big Art Center where I will take all types of art classes someday. I would like to take drawing, painting, and ceramics. Mommy says I have a real talent with art because I never judge my work as good or bad-- anything goes, and I'm so free with it. She also walked me through the galleries and shop (I saw hand blown glass earrings I wanted to get for my sister).

We came home and listened to Indian music while we snuggled on the sofa. My belly was SO FULL because I ate a lunch at home before going to India Palace. I can't believe Mommy gave me two lunches! Then Mommy did her workout video while I watched her for the first time. I laughed and laughed at her, but also kept trying to hug her while she did it (I knocked her over once). I think she is very funny when she exercises because she has to point her feet and stick out her bottom sometimes..... why do people do this?!

"Om Namah Shivayah!" "ॐ नामः शिवयाह"

My Indian Friend, Joseph

2007-05-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post a picture of my friend, Joseph, who I met while attending my special Newcomer ESL school this year. He is seven years old and from India just like me! His parents wrote a letter to mine about a play date, and I will be going to his house tomorrow afternoon! I am going crazy with excitement about this, and even asked Mommy and Daddy if I could be in his family for a while. They told me I can't do that, but that we can always be good friends and play with each other. Joseph is also adopted, and I want to know if he is from Bombay like me and how long he has been in America. I also want to know if he has any chocolate :-)

More About Me: India इंडिया

2007-05-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

I saw video footage of Mommy and Daddy here at the Gateway to India in Bombay. I lived in Bombay for 5 1/2 years of my life, so this is interesting to me. It was built in 1911 and is the first gateway people see when entering India by boat. The last British troop marched out through the gate when Gandhi won India's independence in 1947.

I don't know why, but I feel very proud of myself because I am from India. I always like to tell people I was born there, and that is why I have dark skin. I keep asking Mommy if we can go back to India, but I think I am really doing this to make sure she isn't taking me back soon. When she says, "No, we can't go for a very long time" I feel relieved knowing I am staying with her in America. It's confusing to feel so connected to India, but feel so connected to my family, too.

I am most surprised when I wake up in the mornings and notice I'm still here. I sit up and think in bed for a while, and then Mommy or Daddy walk in the room and I think "I get to be here one more day." I'm beginning to believe it may be forever, but it's hard to imagine this.... there is a part of me that just doesn't believe it can be true.

Mommy was telling me that I am going to grow and grow in America. I keep saying "I will get bigger and bigger to be a man like Daddy." Mommy says her and I will be best buddies when I'm grown up, so I guess I'll still be here in America then. No one ever explained to me that I am growing into a man before, and it's fascinating (I like to talk about it alot). I used to think I could choose to be a man or woman, like we choose our jobs. First I didn't understand and whined that I wanted to be a girl because they are pretty. Mommy reminded me that I am beautiful; that men and boys can be beautiful, too. This made me happy, and I want to be a man now. :-)

I also keep talking about Diwali (pronounced Dee-vollee). It is the Festival of Lights in India that I remember experiencing. It was one of my favorite holidays, and I create drawings about it a lot. Mommy says the holiday celebrates the triumph of wisdom over ignorage, dark over light, good over evil (a great holiday!) I was telling Mommy and Daddy about all the lights I saw everywhere, and the loud popping I heard in the streets (fireworks). We will celebrate it here in our family this year in October and I am so excited! I am going to help Mommy hang all the lights.

Ragini, Me and Music रागिनी मे ऎंड मुसिक

2007-05-18T06:56:00.001-07:00

Yay! I finally talked to My Ragini on Wednesday night on the phone! I was missing her a lot on Monday night and was worried about her. I asked Mommy and Daddy whether she had a home and a family here in America (I just can't imagine her being anywhere but Bal Vikas).

Ragini was in the orphanage with me for many years. I moved to Bal Vikas at about 19 months old, and we were together ever since. We are only one month apart, and she was my very best friend. We went to school together, played and danced, cleaned together, and even cried together. We both waited a very long time for our families, and without her the wait would have been more difficult. I call her "My Ragini", and "My India Sister" and I think she is very beautiful in this picture, so I wanted to share it. On the phone I asked her to marry me three times, and Ragini said she would be the mom and I would be the dad when we are bigger.

Mommy says I will see her later this Summer in a place called Los Angeles. I don't know where that is, but I know it's also part of America. I am excited for school to be over this year (I only have 5 days left) so that I can do tutoring with Mommy, go to Colorado in June, Summer camp in July, Los Angeles in August, and I start my cool new school when we get back. I'm keeping track of this long schedule, and remind everyone of it daily!

Today I am going on a field trip to a place for "bowling". I'm not sure what "bowling" is, but it sounds like a lot of fun. Yesterday I went on a picnic with my class. Before we left for the picnic I broke my glasses- they got really bent, and a screw fell out. The nurse had to put it back together with what they called a "twist-tie" wire and I had crooked glasses all day. Mommy took me to get them fixed after school and she said I had excellent behavior there (she gave me a sticker when we got home).

I love it when Mommy calls me her "handsome boy" because it makes me smile, and I feel very good about myself. I always walk over and give her a hug for saying it, and I call her pretty girl. Lately, I love rubbing my cheek on other people's cheeks (I guess that's like a cat). I love touch and Mommy says I have the most soft skin she has ever felt on any child...even softer than baby skin. I didn't know these nice things about myself before and it's nice to hear about them.

One last thing I wanted to share-- Mommy played loud Indian chants in the car yesterday and I danced so wildly that I made other drivers laugh at me! I enjoyed this a lot and I think Mommy was laughing, too. I had her roll the windows down so I could put on a show for everyone. I really, really love music and keep asking if I can take guitar lessons. Mommy and Daddy both say I can do that when my English and reading skills get better (this should be very soon). I'll be able to serenade My Ragini someday!
ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ

My Bike

2007-05-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

My brother, Sky and I rode our bicycles together on the playground nextdoor today. Daddy took off my training wheels and started teaching me how to ride without them. He cheered twice when I rode independently for a few feet, and I couldn't believe it; I'm dying to ride all by myself! The last picture was taken right after he cheered me. The first picture of me is one of Mommy's favorites.

Last note: My helmet is Infant size...I couldn't even fit the Youth or Toddler sizes! My brother Sky wears Youth, and his head is "as big as watermelon."

This Week थिस वीक

2007-05-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

I did my first sculpture, and wanted to share what it looks like. He's a flying frog with his mouth wide open (he can catch a lot of flies that way). I hope you like it because I do!

Mommy made pindi channa & rice, popodums, and naan bread last night for dinner. I was so happy about this and kept proudly saying, "This is food from My India!" I hope we have it again soon because it comforts me.

I lost my 2nd baby tooth since coming to America, and I didn't throw it in the trash this time! I did what Mommy and Daddy said, and placed it under my pillow last night for the Tooth Fairy. When I woke up there were two small gifts under my pillow and the tooth was gone. When Mommy came in to wake me up this morning I told her the Tooth Fairy crawled under my blanket and tickled me.

Yesterday at school I had the most outstanding day yet! My teacher, Miss Jones, was very proud of me and so were my Mommy and Daddy. I hugged them a lot while talking about it, and told them that I think I'm a very, very good boy. I also talked about how smart I am because I'm just starting to read. I brought home a small book and read it to my parents all by myself! I was SO PROUD that I read it three times and couldn't stop smiling. I just love to read!

I keep feeling more and more happy about myself and my family. I just love everyone so much. Mommy says I only have a few weeks left of school and then it is Summer time. I think Mommy plans to tutor me with reading and math, and take me swimming while Sky does Summer camp in June. I will do Summer camp in July, and then I get to start 1st grade again at the school next door (Cordley) in August.....I am VERY excited about that!

My Drawing 5/3

2007-05-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last night I drew two beautiful flowers that grow and grow. I also drew a rainbow with puffy clouds that are smiling, and a green Earth. I made all the stars look like suns, and they are making shadows on the water. I love to draw!

Jogging with Daddy जोग्गिंग विथ दाद्द्य

2007-04-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

नमस्कार Namaskar everyone! Daddy has been taking my brother and I running on the weekends, and I love it! We run about three square blocks without stopping! Mommy took this picture (the focus wasn't set right, but you get the idea). Sky and I both want to run in races when we get bigger.

Prasad's World प्रसाद's वर्ल्ड

2007-04-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

नमस्कार Namaskar!
When Mommy woke me up for school this morning I did not want to get out of bed. My head was wrapped tightly by my small flannel blanket like a turban and Mommy laughed. She pulled me up and down off my top bunk, and I tried desperatly to squirm back up the bed, whining that I wanted to lay down. "Why she waka me uppa so early!?" The turban stayed on my head as I changed my clothes, and I liked it.

Mornings are hard for me, and I would like it if both Mommy and my brother, Sky would let me sleep more every day. I work so hard all day, learning new things so my brain needs a lot of rest. For breakfast I can't eat a lot either. I always eat one banana with a few crackers and milk- that's it. And when lunch comes around I am not very hungry either. Mommy and Daddy say that I may just have a smaller stomach, and that Americans have stretched out tummies from eating so much, especially at buffets. They took me to a Chinese buffet once and I couldn't believe all the food, and all the people that come together to eat it......I kept asking why they were eating there and not at home. I had so much to eat that night I felt sick (I ate mostly chinese noodles).

Last night I worked hard on a lesson to give Mommy and Daddy. I like pretending I'm a teacher, and would like to be one someday. I created a lesson book with words and pictures, and had them answer questions last night. First, I said "you need questions", but later learned that I ask questions, and they give answers. The words "Question & Answer" are confusing to me, but I'm learning what they mean. Mommy and Daddy did well with the lesson I gave on rainbows and houses, and I also gave a lecture on what questions and answers are. I told them they are good listeners (I will give them stickers for good behavior).

I am very confused because I sometimes say "yes, ma'am" to Mommy, and learned she's not "Sir" (Daddy is sometimes called sir). But when I say "Okay, man!" Mommy says "I'm not a man". Man and Ma'am sound like the same word to me, but I haven't figured out the difference. I correct myself by saying "Okay, Sir" and she says she's not a Sir either! What is going on!!!? I get dizzy, spin around and hold my forehead in confusion when this happens. why does English have to be so weird?!

Also, Mommy keeps trying to explain to me that there are a lot of people in the world. I keep thinking there are only a few (the people I know). I ask her all the time who makes things, like the clothes we wear and the furniture we have. I ask if Grandpa did it, or my teacher Miss Jones? I always think it has to be someone I know, and don't understand that there are over 6 billion people in the world and we don't know them all. Maybe this is normal for my age, but I also think it has to do with being at Bal Vikas so much and not seeing a lot of different people. I even thought that India and Bal Vikas were the same thing.....I didn't realize that India was much bigger than my orphanage. When Mommy says something we have was made in India I always thought one of my Di-Dis (caregivers) made it. The whole world is getting bigger to me, and it's very interesting!

This Weekend

2007-04-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am feeling much better lately.

Daddy took me jogging today. We went around two square blocks and I could have run more. He says I could be a good runner when I get older.......I really enjoy it! I didn't know people could do it for exercise because I never saw it in India. I have very long legs, and can run fast!

Yesterday was my daddy's birthday, and Mommy took him out to dinner and a movie. I was confused about having a babysitter come over to take care of us, but I really enjoyed having her. When I woke up this morning I asked Mommy to get her to come back again, and I thnked her for going out.

Sky and I had very good behavior last night, so we went out to get some toys at the store. At first I saw some toy dress up shoes that I wanted, but Mommy said they were just too girly and my brother Sky got very annoyed with me. Then I asked for a purse because all the handbags were so pretty, but later I decided on a toy cell phone that I call a "mobile". Again, Sky was very upset with me for looking at purses, and kept yelling about how embarrassed he was..... I don't understand why he is so afraid of pretty things.

While riding to the store, Sky pointed out an old truck that he liked. When I looked at it I was completely disgusted and said "Oooooh, that is very old and dirty!!" Sky argued that it was very cool because it had a lot of lawn mowers in the back, and it was big.....what is the appeal there? My brother and I have very different interests, but still always say we're best friends :-)

"Feelings?"

2007-04-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

I don't feel like talking very much today, but Daddy and Mommy want me to talk. They sat down with me last night alone and talked to me a lot. They asked me how I was feeling, and at first I didn't understand what they meant by "feeling." They explained, and I finally understood, but it made me very scared......I started to wiggle, look away, and laugh. Mommy held my hand and kissed it, and I calmed down a little. I finally told them I felt good, but really I feel scared. Later I told them that I'm really scared.

I had a bad day at school yesterday, and didn't get to play outside in my playhouse. I cried and cried about this, but I know why it had to happen. I'm having trouble listening in class lately because I'm so scared of losing people. Everything gets so happy around me, and inside of me that I feel like it has to end sometime. I still don't understand why I'm still here in America and keep thinking I am going back to India soon. To make sure I'm not going back, when Mommy puts me to bed every night I need to know everything I'm doing the next day (in detail). I also always ask if that day can be my birthday :-)

I am not used to people asking me how I feel, and sharing my feelings with words. It feels good, but scary right now. I know Mommy and Daddy love me a lot, so I think I'm going to be okay. I wish I could stop worrying so much.

Today I plan to have a great day at school so that I can come home and play in the playhouse. I also have a new dress-up center in the playroom and enjoy wearing cowboy boots, carrying handbags and trying on costumes....I'll get to do that, too, if I have a good day. Please hold me in your thoughts.......I've been talking to God and my Guru with my heart and asking for help today (Mommy taught me to do this at home this morning and I really love it). I wanted to have Guru's picture on my blog today.....You can see his face in the Ganges river in India, and Mommy says he's floating like that in my heart because he loves me.

Just some things I like

2007-04-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

~My brother talks about Halloween a lot....I have no idea what he is talking about and I get frustrated. What are "cossoom" (costumes) and "jacklelannon" (jack-o-lanterns)? Mommy is filling up a trunk in the basement playroom with cossoom, (but I call it "dress"). She's going to find me a lot of fun dress shoes, wigs and hats, and hang a mirror for us. I was so excited about the idea I was jumping up and down while trying to hug Mommy at the same time.

~Yesterday she got my brother and I a kitchen set (with stove, oven, sink, shelves) for the outside playhouse. I thought I was in heaven, and even dreamt about it last night. I love pretending like I am a grown-up. She even got me a new oven mit that I proudly hang on a hook next to the toy sink.....after school today I plan to clean out the house with a broom and toy vaccuum.

~Last night I made drawings about the seeds I'm growing at school. I love growing plants and flowers and want to have a garden of my own. When I was finished with the drawing I gave a presentation on it because it shows how seeds progress from soil, to roots, to plants, and then flowers. I am amazed with the whole process and talk to people about it a lot. Mommy and Daddy say that I am just like those little plants, and that I am growing into a beautiful flower, too.

~Mommy made me read last night after I did my homework, and I was finally able to recognize some small words. She said if I do this every day, I will get better at reading, and will even read books on my own someday. That is a dream of mine, along with a bicycle......I have been talking about having a bike ever since coming to America!

~Mommy gave me a small India doll this morning. She found it yesterday while cleaning out our room, and she said I could have it. I was so happy and carried her everywhere this morning like she was my little baby. I named her Rangani, after a little baby at Bal Vikas, and she even has a bindi dot on her forehead. I asked Mommy to hide it when I'm at school so Sky doesn't lose it (I wanted to take her to school with me). Maybe Mommy will get me the life size baby doll and Barbie I'm wanting.....I know boys don't usually like dolls, but I love playing house with them. I

think it's because I'm so used to having babies around at Bal Vikas...I miss them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Familiar Chants

2007-04-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

This morning I initiated a family meditation in the living room when Mommy played Russill Paul's "A.M. Yoga Chants". There were two chants that I recognized from India, and I got very excited, singing along. The chants were "Shiva Shambo" and "Hare Ram, Hare Krishna." I asked Mommy to take this picture of me and Sky, and you can see how blissful I was. I sat there for thirty minutes just loving God. Yesterday I showed Daddy and Mommy some Indian dance that I learned at Bal Vikas and I enjoyed having them watch me. I take it quite seriously because I feel very joyful and at peace when I'm doing it. My family was surprised I could dance so well, but I'm finally feeling safe and comfortable enough to perform in from of them without feeling embarrassed.

Mommy told me that Russill Paul is from India, too, and she laughingly called him "a babe"?? I don't understand this term, but I think it might mean that he's handsome. Anyway, he is one of my favorites now, and you can visit his website here. And please sample some of his music files here......Mommy played many of them for me, including Gandhi's favorite chant "Raghupathy" I really love all of them!

More About Me

2007-04-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

I love the song "He we go, Looby-loo! Here we go Looby-light! Here we go Looby-loo, all on a Saturday night!" I have been singing it all morning to my family. My mommy and daddy don't like for me to watch Barney because he annoys them (a lot of grown-ups seem feel that way and I don't know why), but I saw him on television and really liked him. There aren't a lot of shows I am interested in, but I understand all the English and I learn things on Barney. I especially love his songs, and now I get to sing them to everyone. I sing a lot all day because I am such a happy boy. I especially love to ask my family to join in and sing together.

This morning I am going to the eye doctor for a follow up visit. We have to make sure my glasses prescription is working right. I am very happy with my glasses, but I have to get new lenses put in because of scratches I got on the playground....I think I'll be needing new lenses a lot.

Keep those Space Weiners in outer space, please! "I no like hotta dogs!" I have been confused about foods lately. For some reason I am afraid of eating meats. I like some chicken if it is nuggets (with the tasty breading on top), and oily fish sticks. I won't eat any other kind of meats, especially if I think it's slimy. Last night Mommy gave me ice cream and I kept asking her if there was meat in it...she was laughing a lot about that, but I was serious. She made a yummy Middle-Eastern dish for dinner called Felafel and I kept asking her if they had meats.......They were very good and made with chick peas instead. I always say to people "I do NOT like meat!" I always ask what animal each meat comes from, and don't like the idea of eating them. It surprises Mommy and Daddy because they haven't even talked to me much about meats.....I'm happy they are "Betareens" (Vegetarians).

Yesterday I kept asking Mommy why I have been here at this house for so long. It feels like I have been here forever, and I'm wondering when I'm going back to Bal Vikas in India. Mommy seemed very confused and I don't know why. It seems like a good question to me. She said I can't live at Bal Vikas any more because Bal Vikas is for younger children who don't have their families. She said that since I have my family I never have to go back. I felt confused, and kept trying to get clear about everything. I thought I would only be here visiting for a little while......I just can't believe I get to stay. Mommy said we can travel back to India together when I am all grown up, but I told her I don't know if I want to do that because I'd be leaving. She reassured me that she'd come with me, but I still don't think I'd want to go.......like I always say, "India is just too far away to visit any more."

My New Favorite Book

2007-04-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite book, called "Everyone Poops." Mommy read it to my brother and I last night and I could not stop laughing. I even got tears in my eyes and fell off the sofa (this often hurts because I don't have any padding on my bottom yet!)

I was having trouble learning the difference between poo and peepee (English can be tricky, because in India we said "I go Toilet" for peepee, and "I go potty" for the other.) Mommy says that tonight we'll read "The Gas we Pass." I like the idea of that because one of my most used phrases is "Who cutta the cheese!?" I am very proud of my English, and have started using the word "giggle." I look forward to learning how to say more funny things, and giggling.

I love to laugh and watch everyone around me laugh along. Mommy says it's the best medicine when you're feeling sad, sick, or tired....I think she's right because I feel very good today.

1st Post-Placement Visit

2007-04-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

I had the social worker visit my family yesterday for our first post-placement interview (I was as nervous as that kitty!) We'll have many of those over the next few years. Mommy says the social worker sends reports to India (both the government and the orphanage) to make sure that I'm adjusting well.

At first I was happy to meet a new person in my home. I gave her a hug and she sat down in our family room to talk with us. I started feeling very nervous because she was a new person and didn't know what might happen. I jumped around the room, threw a few small toys and made some loud noises (I did this when I first met Mommy and Daddy in India). I don't know why I do this, but I can't stop. I enjoyed making the lady laugh, and sharing thoughts and ideas with her....I just couldn't sit still. I don't like it when I get like that, but my Mommy and Daddy understand and accept it.

Later on, the social worker started talking to Mommy and Daddy about the orphanage and some experiences in India. This made me very nervous, and I think I was scared about having to go back. Mommy started to hold me, stroke my hair and kiss my cheeks.....this calmed me down a lot and I suddenly became very quiet an shy. Instead of being hyper, I was withdrawn and wanted to hide inside Mommy's arms. I woldn't answer the last few questions from the social worker, but she said that was very normal for older kids. She's seen many of us get afraid of being taken away from our families, but Mommy says I am here to stay. I think I believe her.

I told the lady that I was at Bal Vikas for a very, very long time. I also said it takes a very, very long time to get there. I am happy to be here, and Mommy says I never have to go back again. This makes me very happy because I really, really love my family.

When Daddy was asked what the best thing was about the whole experience he said, "Him. Just Prasad himself. He's a breath of fresh air in this family," and Mommy said, "My instant connection and bond with him because it was immediate."

My Room मय रूम

2007-04-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some pictures of me and my brother in our room this morning. You can see the hallway that leads to our room, and the plaque that Mommy made for us before I came home.

Every day Sky and I like to build spaces out of our toys, boxes and crates. Sometimes we create a store, office, or house in one corner of the room. Today we made a house and we're sitting in our pretend bedroom area reading books together (I was reading "Curious George" and "Danny the Dinosaur." The part that is covered with a roof is the kitchen but I feel it needs more lighting. You can also see our large chalkboard wall where Sky likes to scribble, but I keep asking Mommy to wash it all off so I can start over with new drawings.

Sometimes Mommy and Daddy act very surprised about how messy we make our room, but we always clean it up before bedtime. I am very good at cleaning, and often volunteer to do it before I am asked. I want a small sweeper for my carpet so I can clean up all the small pieces of lint on the floor (this will end me having to get on my hands and knees because I am very meticulous about cleaning). Maybe Mommy will get me one soon.

I am so happy Mommy took these pictures for me because I like to see them on the computer and share them with everyone. I hope she takes some more soon; maybe she'll let me take some, too!

Hindi

2007-04-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

एंड्र्यू प्रसाद पीब्लेस

That is my full name, Andrew Prasad Peebles, in Hindi. Pretty cool, dude (I love saying "dude")

My First Post

2007-04-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, dear family and friends. Mommy has decided to let me have my own blog and I'm very excited about it. She will be doing much of the writing for me until I am able to type myself in a few years. She is hoping that this will be a more personal way for everyone to get to know me. I can share what I like and dislike, and all my experiences from my perspective.

I am 7 years old and attend the first grade at a really cool international school. My best friend is Mikel from Bulgaria and we like to chase each other at recess. I am new to America, but I feel like I have always lived here. I enjoy the foods, friendly people, and the four pets in my home. One of my favorite things to do is crawl into bed at night (I am in the top bunk) and feel my soft bedding. I like flannel pillow cases, blankets, and my two teddy bears. In India I didn't have blankets or a pillow and never knew what I was missing!

When my little brother, Sky, goes to bed at night I get to stay up with Mommy and Daddy for an hour. This is my special time with them for snuggles and talking. At that time I also like to build with "eggo Leggos" and draw pictures that I can give to people I love. Sometimes I can be very quiet at night, talking only to myself, and thinking deeply about what I did during the day.

Lately, I have been feeling scared of losing my family. I waited for almost seven years for them in India, and thought I may never have them. I told my parents that I used to cry a lot in India because of this, and I felt very alone. Now that I am here I can't believe it. I also cannot believe how much they love me, and I love them. I want to be with Mommy all the time because she makes me feel accepted for who I am, and I just feel safe with her. Sometimes I just cry when she holds me because I feel old sadness that needs to come out. I don't know what i did to deserve such a nice family, but Mommy says she is the most lucky one to have me.

I told Mommy that someday I want to cook and garden for her. When I am bigger I will do this, and I want to learn how to make Indian foods and grow beautiful flowers. Right now I just draw her pictures of flowers and tell her she is beautiful. I'm told that I am very mature for my age because I can do a lot of things by myself, and I am not very impulsive. I think this is because I had to do a lot for other children at the orphanage in India, but also because I am a very old soul. I care a great deal for others, and Mommy says this is unusual for my age.

I've asked Mommy to have a baby so that I can help take care of it with her, but she looks at me like I am super crazy. I don't know why she won't do it, but every time I see a baby I want one. I also like baby dolls (dressing them), hand bags, and wearing my Mom's shoes. I know this seems funny, and sometimes I laugh about it, but I just think ladies clothes are much nicer. I don't understand why boys clothing is so boring. When my Mom took me shopping the other day I wanted a floral bikini, but I didn't understand that they aren't for men......I'm still learning about this culture. She did get me a very nice blue floral boys suit that I like a lot. As an artist I am very visual, and so I'm drawn to pretty things. I am still very much a 'boy' in that I love to get dirty, play rough and get wild.

I think this is enough for now. It's a lot for my first post. My Mom reads all these back to me so I know what she's typing.