Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

Our kids have no idea what Halloween is, but that's just fine by us. However, we did take advantage of the day and pulled out the costumes for the kids. Doesn't Talley make the most inquisitive ladybug?


Ella was a happy Minnie Mouse all morning long. 


Albert isn't feeling well, but he agreed to play the part of an old Chinese man for a few minutes. 


In the baby room, Poppy and Adia were the sweetest pair. 


And Mason took our breath away with the most adorable Winnie the Pooh there could ever be! He's sweeter than honey, this boy.


Annabel was a dalmatian. 


Outside, Christopher and Esther played super heroes and saved the world with their cuteness. 


Meilin loved being a cat, and meowed her way around for quite a while. 


Colton and Joel saved the world. Hya!


Happy Halloween! We hope that your kids had just as much fun dressing up as ours did!

NDSouth: Fall Fun

Even though we don't have much of a fall down south, we have been learning about it in preschool. Recently a friend sent us some spider rings and colored leaves! We have had fun learning all about them. 

What do you have there, Marshall?


Fisher has an orange spider ring. He doesn't look quite so sure about it, does he?


What a beautiful leaf, Marshall!


What colors are on that leaf, Fisher?


Who is hiding back there?


Why, it's Cooper!


And who is this little one hiding?


Asa!


We have sure had fun this week looking at all the beautiful leaves. Thank you, Laura!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Five Times Adorable


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Celebrating the Firsts: Lydia's First Steps!

In the past week, two of our little darlings here at New Day have taken their first steps. We'll start with Lydia because she was the first.

Lydia came to us with multiple GI and heart defects. She was a tiny, few-week old baby struggling with pneumonia when she arrive and was near death many, many times. Her story is amazing - the miracles are enough to blow anyone's mind. And yet... and yet the chapter that she's living today is pretty amazing as well.

Sometimes she can be stubborn, we'll admit, but Lydia has a determination that has brought her so far. One of her nannies commented the other day, "It wasn't long ago when she was weak, her head bobbing, and she couldn't do anything. Now, did you see? She can walk!"

And walk she can...



Hooray for you, Lydia! We are so proud of you.
Monday, October 28, 2013

Jeffery and Wayne: All Grown Up!

It seems like just yesterday that little Wayne and Jeffery entered into our care as tiny babies with ENT defects. But it wasn't yesterday, because of a few things...

...two things, actually.




The boys have grown in leaps and bounds! Wayne is now a pretty confident walker. He keeps his foster mama busy. Can you just see him saying, in the picture below, "Bye mom, I'm off to get into trouble. See you later!"


When the boys came to the foster home the other day for check-ups (they've both grown, no doubt about that!) the rest of the foster home kiddos were outside playing. Isaac was happy to show them around.


Esther supervised. She runs the place, you know, and so she came over to keep an eye on the visitors. 






It's too bad that we'll have to wait until next summer for these handsome lads to join our afternoon preschool class, because we sure wish that we could see them more often. But it's pretty exciting to watch their growth and development month-by-month, don' you agree?


From a sick and dying baby into this...


From a baby needing surgery and love into this...


We give credit for Wayne and Jeffery's transformation and curiosity to their foster parents. Vicki and Jim have been fostering children for about three years, and have made differences is so many children's lives. 


They've given two little orphaned boys the opportunity to live in a family. 


While Jeffery and Wayne wait to be adopted, we're glad that they get this chance to be loved unconditionally, cared for expertly and to live the life that every child should know.
Saturday, October 26, 2013

Snapshot Sunday: Melinda and Fun Dip

Sometimes, you just got to have some fun. And when it comes to fun, Melinda is an expert. Add in some fun dip candy and we've got ourselves a giggly and hilarious little girl. 


Green lips? Check!


Green tongue? Check!


Getting a look at it all in the mirror? Check for that, too!


It really doesn't get sillier than this, does it?


October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Extra chromosomes are fantastic, and Melinda could not be more perfect in our eyes! 

NDSouth: Wordless Saturday: Fish Face


Friday, October 25, 2013

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

...well, actually it's not. It looks a whole lot more like fall here in Beijing.






But it's about time to start thinking about Christmas over here at New Day Foster Home. We know that we sure had fun receiving all of those Christmas packages that you sent over for the kids, and it's time to sign up to sponsor them again!

Head on over to the list to choose a child, and then e-mail either Hannah (NDBeijing) or Anneli (NDSouth) to sign up!



We look forward to hearing from you... and Happy Shopping!
Thursday, October 24, 2013

NDSouth: Teacher Cooper

Our Preschool teacher was without a voice the other day and so Cooper stepped up to help teach the class. He started off the day just like any other with asking the children what month, day, and year it was.


He then moved on to the ABC's, carefully pointing at each letter as he said it.


He was so patient with Marshall and helped him when he needed it.


Next was the weather for the day.

"Is it rainy? No, it's sunny today!"


Cooper then went over the shapes, colors, and animals on our window clings.


We also were able to catch a video of Cooper going through the vocab cards with the kids.



Great job, Teacher Cooper. Thanks so much for helping!