One of the funniest things about being a new mother is watching your child mimic you. Kajal does this with both myself and my mother on a regular basis. She is learning the language in part, by doing this and having fun along the way. Sometimes, she does it on purpose and other times it just comes naturally. Like the first time I said, I love you to her, and she repeated it back to me. I know she didn't know what it meant but wow, it went straight to my heart. My mother would play this game with her, "Guess what?" She'd ask and Kajal would look at her blankly and my mother would answer, herself, "I love you!" The first time, my mother said, 'Guess What?' and Kajal responded "I love you" we both about passed out from the joy of it...
Yesterday, we had a whole group of 'firsts'. When we were at Children's Hospital visiting with the doctors this past week, Kajal was drawn to the large fish tanks they have through out the hospital. She was jump up and down in amazement. Yesterday morning was really rough on her. We had to go back to the hospital and she just started crying. She really didn't want to go and went into a full blown tantrum. I had to carry her down the stairs and put her kicking and crying into the cab... it was heartbreaking. The good news though came, she doesn't have TB! The news was great and from the history the orphanage had given us, not at all what we were expecting. She was exhausted from all the tears and stress and I knew she needed a 'fun day'. Especially since today we'll be going to Mass General where she'll be meeting her pediatrician for the first time and having all of her immunizations done, ouch.

Needless to say, a trip to the Aquarium was in order. I kept telling Kajal we were going to see the 'fishes' and would make these weird swimming motion with my hands. She understood and my mother, myself and Kajal jumped in a cab and headed for the aquarium, all of us chanting away... 'we're going to see the fishes'. When we were outside I pointed to the building and said to Kajal, there they are... the fish are in that building. Kajal almost freaked and ran toward the building yelling "I'm coming fish, I'm coming!" We laughed so hard. From the moment she saw the seals swimming in their tanks to the penguins and the huge tank with sharks and turtles, Kajal just kept saying "Oh my goodness, Mommy, oh my goodness!" In the cutest Indian accent. My mother and I just laughed, as we realized this is something I say when I get excited and Kajal had picked it up as naturally as if the words were part of her natural vocabulary.  Every time she says something, one new word, two words or like this example, a whole sentence in English... I just jump up and down and hug her, saying 'Thats great! You're amazing! You're so smart! Oh my goodness!" And I repeat the word she just said over and over in celebration of her intelligence. Kajal just laughs with us... her joy is infectious.

After our wonderful Aquarium experience we headed for the gift shop.... she ran around grabbing things and putting them in my basket. I try and figure out what she really loves and wants and what she's just grabbing because it's there and as I follow her through the store sort through things and sneak those back onto the shelves that are clearly the 'just grabbbed'. At the counter I go through the basket and give her choices, this or this? This or this? And we narrow down what she really wants. This is probably the hardest challenge... how do you help a child have gratitude for what they have and get? How do you avoid raising a materialistic child who has no sense of value for what they have. I know that Kajal is generous, she'd give her favorite toy to her best friend Manisha in a minute (the translator told us last night, Marinalini, that Kajal told her she thinks Manisha is her sister) but in this new world where I've tried to offer her things she both needs and would make her really happy she believes that the world is truly hers for the grabbing and boy, does she want it all! By the time we made it home though I'd stashed some of her favorite items for Christmas and gave her the one that she loved the most to play with and she didn't seem to realize the others were missing.

If there is one thing I've learned in life it's that 'things' don't make us happy, people and experiences do. Loving and giving does. Hopefully, somehow, as we learn and grow together... I'll be able to manage to give Kajal what she needs and really truly wants, while imparting this valuable lesson.

Some other great firsts yesterday, shopping! Speaking of wanting it all We stopped by the Gap for some new pajama's, sweath/play suit and socks. We did the same game, this or that? And narrowed it down to a few items I knew she really wanted and could use.

Her amazement at the huge Christmas tree in Faneuill Hall was incredible! This child is so full of awe and joy. Tomorrow we'll go shopping for our first Christmas tree... imagine what she'll be thinking when we put it up inside the house? She doesn't have any idea of what Christmas is but hopefully in the next month we'll find a way to show her, at least a little, of what it is really all about... love, family, giving and God.