Big Changes for Little Sophia

Things are changing happening in our little girl’s life. I can’t help but think of her and wonder how she’s going to handle all the things that are, or are about to happen in her world. First, Sophia has had a special friend in her life since she first came to Starfish. Noa and Sophia have always shared a nanny and Noa’s forever family came to get her this past Sunday.

(Click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.)

Noa and Sophia playing together

I have become good friends (via email and phone calls) with Noa’s new mom, Brooks, and she was kind enough to take a small care package for us to give to Sophia. Luggage space is at a premium for families traveling overseas, so it was hard to choose just a few things to send her! We’re so thankful to them for squeezing our little package in though.

Our care package: A snuggly blankie, a package of hairbows, a family photo (laminated on a card
so she can carry it around) and the softest little lamb ever!

Brooks and her husband have been waiting to adopt a baby from China for a very long time, and I am so excited for them! I made this little dress for Noa to send them in celebration of their special day.

For Miss Noa ~ I plan to make one for Miss Sophia too :-)

We’ve also been able to send a photo album of our family, a drawing Olivia made for her and a small toy with another volunteer who recently traveled to Starfish and sent us back lots of precious pictures.

We’ve learned that Amanda, who runs Starfish, is going to have to move the foster home to another place. That means moving all 52 babies, 27 nannies and all their stuff! They currently live on several floors of an apartment and I believe I heard she had to be out of their apartments by the end of this month. Here is her blog with pictures of the new home. If you have a heart for volunteering and the time and money to fly to China, she needs some serious help getting the place ready! It is a huge place though, so all the children will be on the same level, which I’m sure will be much easier to manage.

The downside for Sophia is that Big Sophia will be an hour away by bus, so she won’t be able to come visit her nearly as often as she can now. So, with many of her friends being adopted (how does a 20 month old even begin to comprehend where they’ve gone???), the chaos of moving to a new home and her special Sophia not being able to see her very often, she has some big changes beginning to happen in her life.

Big Sophia with Little Sophia, next to the drawing Olivia sent.

Of course, the BIGGEST change is yet to come, and even though that will be the most traumatic for her, we can’t wait to finally go get her and give her the love and stability only a forever family can give!

Till next time,
Karee