Recently, we’ve got two new nannies in the Blue Room, so we have been spending extra time helping with the children there. Blue Room is really five rooms all connected: the furthest two full of cribs; a room with couches, a TV, and high chairs, one with fridges, closets, and cupboards, and a bathroom. Get ready to meet more of the cutest kids on the planet. 
This picture does not do justice to that adorable dimple on Angela’s right cheek! Angela was born with a cleft lip and palate, but she is just over two years old and a healthy little girl. Angela is a bright, determined, quick-to-smile child who loves one-on-one attention. She is very conscientious of details and has pretty powerful concentration for a two-year-old. Angela’s Ayi went on leave for a few weeks, so I have become her special friend lately, and I when she first sees me in the morning, I’ll throw out my arms and she’ll drop what she’s doing and run for a hug! Moments like those are what this is all about.
Meet Chloe. She is nearly three, but, sadly, it is only in the last several months that she has started wearing glasses. She is nearly blind without them, so I still see her squinting and pulling things and people close to her face for examination. If my information is correct, a lady from our branch in Xi’an—Ning Ning—performed Chloe’s cataract surgeries. Chloe is a sweetheart, but also a handful, and always exploring (aka getting into things!). Chloe can count to four and LOVES to sing. Remember her “E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I”? She likes to be right in the middle of the action, so she’ll grab a mop and “help” :) when we clean or beg for hand sanitizer when she sees volunteers washing their hands. Chloe’s laugh is delightful, and she can be quite gentle. One evening, I was brushing my hair and she plopped herself down on my lap and spent probably 20 minutes tenderly brushing my hair and laughing hysterically when she brushed hair into my eyes.
This is Coco! She is 3 years old, and unlike many of the children who come to Starfish as infants, she has only been here about a year. She has had heart surgery and surgery to correct her congenital anal atresion (This is what Louis and Seth have—now I know what it is called) and one of her hands is malformed. When she came to Starfish at age 2, she could not yet sit up without help, but now she is walking and playing with the rest of the kids her age, so her progress here has been tremendous. Coco has the biggest heart and the most infectious laughter. She cracks herself up so often, and when she is laughing hard she covers her eyes with her hands as if it’s so funny she can’t handle it! Coco’s favorite things include swinging and running across the room for a big hug.
It’s too bad that the hospital cut Emma’s lovely long hair, but, as you can see, it doesn’t take away from her cuteness! Emma is about 18 months old and just returned last week from a successful heart surgery. Though she tires easily and seems quite weak, she is in good spirits and gets plenty of exercise to regain her strength. Emma is very observant, kind-hearted, and a little mother to the other babies, even though they are about her age. Yesterday, after watching me, she took the rattle she was holding, shook it to get Justin’s attention, handed it to him, then turned to me and smiled. It was the sweetest thing! She is loving and a quick learner. 
It is hard to find a picture of Geoff when he’s NOT smiling! When he gets excited (which is often) he just grins, and squints his eyes, and kicks and waves his arms in the cutest little happy dance you’ve ever seen. Geoff turned 1 a few weeks ago, and, thanks to Peace (our new volunteer roommate) we learned a little bit about his background. Peace was here at Starfish a year ago volunteering and one evening after all the children were in bed and the adults were up chatting, the guard who mans the security gate brought a box to the door and said that someone had left them a baby. Sweet little Geoff was inside. Wow. Geoff was born without a radius or a thumb in his right arm, and recently he had the arm x-rayed so the doctors can decide a course of action for that. Geoff is energetic, but easy-going, very charming, and quite the little wiggler! 
This is Justin, and if you saw him now, you might not recognize him. Yep, the nannies shaved off all that soft, dark hair! :( Justin (11 months old) had a cleft lip and palate that were corrected in the most recent batch of surgeries. Justin is quite the little athlete and of all the babies loves the walkers the most. He will spend a good hour on most days zooming around in that thing, chasing big bouncy balls and other toys and having a marvelous time. He likes toys that makes noise, and after tummy time today, I am hoping he will learn to crawl before we leave—he’s close! But even though he's so active, Justin occasionally gets really cuddly, and will just lay his head down on my shoulder for a snuggle! Justin is really a mellow, pleasant baby. 
Kaitlin is the oldest child at Starfish and will turn five pretty soon, though her cognitive development is a few years below that. They think she was deprived of oxygen at birth, which permanently damaged her brain development. In the back of her head, Kaitlin has a shunt, which is a tube that drains fluid from her brain. The shunt is coiled so it will grow with Kaitlin until she is about 9, then she will need another surgery for a new fit. Recently the physical therapists have visited to help Starfish help Kaitlin; she will stand with support, but cannot hold her head up straight for more than a few seconds. (I think she also has cerebral palsy?) We have been doing sensory play activities with her (thanks to Alison for her textured fabrics!!) and she seems to respond to that. I once held Kaitlin by the window so she could look outside and hummed Primary songs to her, remembering and feeling that she is indeed a celestial spirit.
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