New Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at this cutie!!!

We received these new photos of Daniel yesterday. I "met" a wonderful woman on a message board I am on. She has contact with the Director of Daniel's orphanage. She offered to get some info for me and of course I said yes. I was skeptical, however, she really came through!

Is this kid cute or what? I cannot wait to get my hands on him!

This first photo was taken while he was singing and dancing in his pre-school! He looks to have a girls outfit on here. He is the one in the front in the yellow. We'll have him dressed like a "little man" once we get him! He is attending the little school in his orphanage offered by Half the Sky. This is a WONDERFUL organization that I'll write about later.

The director's letter stated:

"Thanks for your good news ,we all excited to know Jie Jie will have a family.The boy is very cute and happy now ,he is a student of pre-school sponsored by the Half Sky Foundation.The picture was taken when he was singing and dancing with other children.."

And this photo I LOVE! They shaved his little head! LOVE IT!!

I love how he has a little smile :)

It made me so happy to see that he is in a little program and seems happy. Now I can rest a little easier until we can bring him home with us.

The lady who received the photos for us said she will try and get another update in a few months. She is a God-send!

It's Daniel!!

Here's another photo I forgot to add the first time.

We have decided on a name finally. After a few days of Leah calling him "the brother", we had to make up our minds. His full name will be Daniel Fu Jie. We feel it's important to keep his Chinese name as it is a part of who he is and his culture. I am told that name selection is a "weighty issue" in China and we want him to carry his given name forward in life. Now, I just need to learn how to pronounce it! Dave and I will be attending a Mandarin class so we will learn.

We have a little bit of information about Daniel's personality. I believe this information is from 12/06


We are told:

- He can now say "Mama"

- likes to imitate adults' gestures such as clapping hands, covering eyes etc

-When he sees an animal he likes he will point to it and ask others to look while he babbles the animal's name and claps his hands

- He is "very smart, adorable little boy, who is outgoing, and always wears a sweet smile"

- quick minded (oh boy! )

- imitative

- able to make gestures such as "bye" "welcome"

- loves to play hide and seek by covering his eyes

- loves to play outside and asks his "granny" to take him out

- active and restless (going to be fun! :)

- deep sleeper (hooray!)

- likes toys that make noise

His records indicate he has a "granny". From what I understand, this may indicate that he has had a lot of attention. The doctor we spoke to when reviewing his file said "he may be king". Heehee! Oh well, we have the princess, why not the King! It makes me feel good to know he has someone who loves him until we can bring him home.

It's a Boy!!!!!!!!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!

Yes, You've read right! We have a son :) What a surprise!! We are soo excited and cannot wait to bring this little guy home to us. We received a call from our social worker on June 13th. Our agency had received their list of "waiting children". These children have minor special needs. When we sent our original paperwork we filled out a sheet that included all of the special needs we would be willing to consider. Our social worker sent us his file to look over and we knew he was our baby boy! His name is Min Fu Jie which translates as: one who will be strong, wealthy, and fortunate in life. At the orphanage they call him Jie Jie meaning "strong little boy". We are still working on a new name and hope to have it figured out by tomorrow. He is currently 22 months old. He will be 2 years old on August 8th! He has a cleft lip and palate that have both been repaired in China. The first 2 photos were most likely taken this past winter and the last photo is the most recent taken in the beginning of June.

I'll post more info about him soon. Just wanted to get the word out that their a new addition to the Link Family!

We will most liklely travel to bring him home
within 5-6 months.