9.30.2010

Ethan's Updates

This is our sweet boy getting his hearing checked. Apparently, they got candy when they were finished. Ethan attempted to go back a couple more times...for the candy!



JULY 2010

Ethan is 3 Years 4 Months Old.
Ethan is a ray of sunshine and he is a handsome boy. He likes to smile and help other children. Ethan loves to go to his classes. During class he likes to draw pictures and listen to the music. Ethan has a very strong hands-on ability. He can find his own clothes and dress himself. He is willing to help his mother do housework. He helps clean the desk and bed, and he helps Robert wash his face and clothes. These things are what he likes.








This was a rainy day in Beijing, which Ethan loves!



AUGUST 2010

Ethan is 3 Years 5 Months Old.
Ethan’s nanny wrote this update:
Recently Ethan has grown fast, getting much taller and heavier. His classes in the morning are tightly arranged. After the one-to-one teacher’s English class, Ethan goes to the bigger classroom to join the other children. Ethan likes learning English, and has kept many English words in mind with a good memory. He loves his English teacher. Every morning when he sees the teacher, he happily says hello spontaneously. Ethan is a grown-up boy now, sensible and well-behaved. Ethan loves helping the nannies to do some simple household duties, such as tidying beds and cleaning tables, and he helps out every day. Ethan is close to Robert, and often helps him to get dressed. They help each other, just like twin brothers.





At New Day, it's the time of year when all the local grape arbors are bursting with sweet, juicy fruit! They take all the little ones to pick grapes... considering how many we bring home, it's hard to believe they probably eat more than they pick! It was a fun morning, and they'll be enjoying the "fruit" of their labor for quite a few days!




SEPTEMBER 2010

Ethan is 3 Years 6 Months Old.
Ethan is a handsome little boy loved by everyone. He has a great personality, laughs a lot and is very active. Ethan’s hands-on skills are very impressive, he is a very independent young man. He can dress and un-dress himself, and even put on his shoes! He does very well to make sure he puts the shoes on the correct feet too. Ethan can also go to toilet, flush it and put things back to the way they were. Ethan now loves going to pre-school, and he has greatly improved in his class. He cooperates well with the teacher and sings spontaneously during music class. He adds his own moves and has fun during the session! It’s a joy to see how Ethan is developing and his unique personality.


Some of the staff members gave the kids rides on their scooters. Apparently, Ethan wasn't afraid at all. Wait until he gets a lift on Grandma and Papa's Harley's.



OCTOBER 2010

Ethan is 3 years 7 months Old.

Ethan is a lovely boy with a joyful personality. He is well liked by anyone who meets him! Ethan is determined and serious about anything that he does, whether it be drawing or putting together puzzles. Ethan enjoys attending school. He has a wonderful memory, and has been learning new English words quickly. He uses them often and I am so impressed by his accomplishments! He is also becoming more and more independent. Ethan is my little helper. He follows me as I work and helps me clean his room and the dining table. Ethan wants to be a self-reliant boy, and also offers to help the other children. He is polite, and always says “Goodbye” to visitors as they leave. Recently, I asked Ethan to hand me a pen off the table. He brought it to me, and I said, “Thank you!” Ethan responded to me by saying, “Don’t thank me. It’s my pleasure.” Oh, this touched my heart and made me so proud! Ethan is a true gentleman!





Meet Ethan's Best Friend Robert


Robert was born on October 9, 2006. He was abandoned at the gate of a local orphanage on March 9, 2007. When his birth parents couldn't be located, they admitted him into the hospital and diagnosed him with severe heart defect. He has already received 2 heart surgeries to repair his defect, and needs a third surgery. The organization that paid for his first two surgeries is no longer able to care for him. Due to his extensive medical needs, his home orphanage asked New Day to take him while he waits for his third surgery. He arrived on March 11, 2010. Robert is a strong-willed little boy who sometimes gets upset if he doesn't get his own way, but he loves to be praised and he's able to understand and communicate with adults.





August Update...


Robert is a bright and energetic boy who loves talking and laughing. He loves to talk to all the nannies. He has a good appetite which has helped him become healthier and healthier. He is also almost completely potty trained!
Robert loves going to preschool. He enjoys learning English, building with blocks, drawing pictures, and getting exercise. Robert also has a great memory. He remembers a lot of English words, when it’s time to exercise, and when it s time to go back to class. Robert especially enjoys playing with Ethan and Shaun. He often looks for toys to give to Shaun to make him happy. Robert likes to help the nannies to do some simple chores. When he is praised, he is very proud of himself!









September Update..


Robert is a very energetic and helpful little boy! Every day he helps the cooking nanny bring the food to the table and hands out the bibs, and he also helps find shoe covers and open doors for people. He loves to talk to whoever he can- and he asks lots of questions: “Do we have class today?”, “Is the teacher coming?”, “Where’s the nanny?”, “Is it time for class?”. He never runs out of questions to ask!
Robert is developing well also. He can dress and undress himself, and do lots of other little things. He loves to eat and is not a picky eater at all!







October Update...Robert loves to interact with his nanny- chatting with her and laughing with her often. He enjoys getting praise, and when he does he is very happy. Robert works hard in his therapies. He used to eat only with his right hand because his left hand was weak. However, now he is able to use it for many different things, and can open it up with help.
Robert is very self-reliant. He can put on his own pants, socks, and shoes by himself. He even can do it quickly. He also has a great memory. He loves to listen to stories from his nanny and truly enjoys going to class to learn English. He is a very happy boy.

Robert turned 4 on October 9th....Check out the pictures on New Day of him making his birthday wish! http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster/album/bday1010/pic.html


Robert wants a family...but he NEEDS a third heart surgery! I cannot even begin to imagine what this would cost in the United States, however, in Beijing, the cost is $10,000. If you would like to help pay for this or help sponsor Robert in anyway, please go to http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster/index.html and click on HOW TO HELP.

Tax-deductible donations to the medical/surgical fund can be made by check or on-line through PayPal. If you would like your contribution to go towards a specific child’s medical expenses, please e-mail us at foster@newdaycreations.com. Otherwise, your contribution will go where it’s most needed.

Thank you for anything you are able to do! Love, Tonya











































Cameron turns 15


Cameron turned 15 on July 18th! We had the family over for dinner and of course cake! Every year when they were little, I would make a special cake depending on what they were into. Hawaiian with flowers for the luau party, a gator cheerleader, and then there was Shamu...the grey blob! This year...I got off easy...chocolate cake! Yummy!


Cameron and her Grandma above and Granny Di below!



Cameron and Victor!


My niece, Taylor, was in town from New York and got to spend some time with her cousins!