As summer draws to a close, our little ones have returned to their daily routines. Some have started new activities this year, while others are in a season of transition. January has been a good month for everyone. We continue caring for the children and loving them well. One of their favorite activities has been diving into the pool and cooling off from the summer heat.
Lady L is doing well and is attending the same crèche as Mr. L. It has been so encouraging to see the many ways she is growing and developing. She is learning new skills and gaining confidence each day.
After a full day at school, she sometimes feels tired and overwhelmed, which has led to more tantrums in the afternoons. Please pray that we would remain intentional and consistent in our care and guidance when she returns home, supporting her with patience and understanding as she adjusts to her new routine.
Lady N continues to grow and develop beautifully. Toward the end of last year, Debra and Pertunia, alongside her therapists, began working on assisted walking. We are so proud to share that she is now able to take multiple steps while holding someone’s hands. She is making wonderful progress, and we could not be prouder of her determination. She has resumed her Friday therapy sessions, and it is such a privilege that she is able to see a speech therapist, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist each week. We will continue building on this important work in the year ahead. One of our major goals last year was to help Lady N discover that play—and life—is more enjoyable and meaningful when shared with others. We have seen remarkable growth in this area. She now intentionally moves toward people to engage in play and is able to remain connected and involved with others for much longer periods of time.
Last year, her speech therapist introduced specific songs for routines such as mealtime, bath time, and medicine time. These have been incredibly helpful. Lady N now often anticipates what to expect during these activities and feels more secure and less startled during transitions. It has been such a joy to witness her progress and development in so many different ways.
Mr. B is full of energy! He starts his days early and stays busy until his head hits the pillow. We often call him our little firecracker—he certainly keeps the home lively. Like most two-year-olds, he is constantly exploring, experimenting, and discovering the world around him. He has a healthy appetite and eats very well. Potty training, however, has been more challenging. We will continue to gently remind and encourage him, celebrating every success along the way.
Mr. B is strong-willed, which means his days require consistent guidance paired with much patience and grace. We would appreciate prayers for the ladies who care for him—that they would continue to respond with compassion and wisdom. He has especially enjoyed swimming and spending time at the park. At home, we are making space in our mornings for reading together, as well as sensory and fine motor activities such as playing with colors, using playdough, and practicing threading. It is a joy to watch him grow and develop each day.
Mr. K is doing well overall. It has been a challenging month for him as Luthando has started school, and he has struggled at times with staying home and feeling as though he is missing out. We are hopeful and praying that he will have the opportunity to attend school soon. He continues to be a wonderful helper at home, always serving with joy and without complaint. His favorite activity this summer has been swimming—he absolutely loves the water and splashing around. We have also enjoyed some fun mornings together at the park.
Mr. K is developing beautifully and has a real love for learning. We intentionally create small moments during the day to practice foundational skills. He can now count confidently and recognize shapes in everyday life. We are also encouraging independence by giving him simple responsibilities, such as dressing himself, tidying up his toys, placing his plate in the sink after meals, and wiping down the table. In addition, he is developing basic hand–eye coordination through ball play and especially enjoys throwing and catching in the garden with his aunties.
Mr. N lost his first tooth, such a big boy!
We are looking forward to a busy and exciting year filled with meaningful learning experiences. Our dear boy has resumed his Friday therapy sessions, where we are placing a strong focus on supporting his speech development. This year, we are working on expanding his vocabulary and helping him confidently answer “who,” “where,” “why,” and “what” questions. At times, he tends to whisper or avoid speaking when he feels less motivated, so we are consistently encouraging him to speak clearly and use longer, more complete sentences. We will continue reading to him daily and singing many songs together to further support his language growth.
Mr. N brings so much joy to those around him. He loves to sing, make people laugh, and spend time swimming. He had a wonderful summer filled with fun swim parties and special memories. We are also gently working on transitioning him to a quiet rest time, as he has been having some difficulty with naps. We are incredibly grateful for the sweet bond shared among the four boys and look forward to watching them continue to grow together this year.
Mr. L is doing wonderfully well. He recently started attending a crèche just five minutes from home, and in the short time he has been there, we have already seen remarkable growth. He is learning many new skills and gaining confidence each day.
His speech has developed significantly, and it has been a great blessing for him to participate in the school gym program. Physical activity was an area he previously found challenging, and we are encouraged to see him working hard and making steady progress. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity for Mr. L to attend school and look forward to watching him continue to grow and thrive in the months ahead.
Our boys have been doing very well overall. Each one is in a different stage, and it is truly beautiful to watch them grow—each at his own pace and in his own unique way. We thank God for their lives and continue praying that they will find loving homes soon.
We are deeply encouraged by Baby P.’s progress and how well he is doing. At first, he was very afraid to walk. He would stand up, but as soon as we let go of his hands, he would immediately sit down. However, just five weeks later, our little one was walking—almost running! It has been so encouraging to see his development flourish. He is learning the names of all his aunties, and we are now focusing on expanding his vocabulary and improving his pronunciation.
We are also teaching him to stand back up on his own when he falls, offering only minimal assistance. One of our goals this month is helping him communicate when he feels frustrated. For that reason, we are consistently working on sign language. Please pray that the Lord gives us patience as he learns to communicate, and that we may listen well and respond to his needs in the best way possible. He is a sweet little boy who loves giving cuddles and is now beginning to sing.
Baby T. is doing very well and is one of the fastest-developing babies we have seen. He is learning quickly and was recently working on sitting independently. He is now scooting around, which makes us think crawling is just around the corner—very exciting!
He is babbling much more and learning to communicate. He is quick to smile and has a very curious personality. We will continue supporting him with pre-crawling exercises, independent sitting, and communication development
Mr. P is doing well. He continues to be cautious and reserved by nature. This month, we have been encouraging him to work through tasks that sometimes frustrate him, such as putting on his shoes or taking off his shirt without getting stuck and upset. He loves copying NJ and often laughs simply because NJ is laughing. It is very sweet to see how he follows his older brother’s example—even if that sometimes means double the mischief!
He loves his little guitar and often brings it to church. During worship, he joyfully “plays” along. Mr. P is very perceptive and quick to notice when other children need help or feel sad. He is eager to comfort and love others well.
Baby S. is doing well. For a preemie, his development is progressing beautifully. He is improving with tummy time, and we have been working on assisted sitting. He will soon begin eating solid foods, which is very exciting for us. He is growing quickly and has quite the voice—when he is uncomfortable, he certainly lets us know! At the same time, he sleeps very well thanks to the routine we have established.
He is smiling more and loves to be snuggled and held. This month, we will focus on helping him learn to roll over.
Mr. NJ is doing very well and is incredibly active. He is thriving in school and learning so much. He quickly makes new friends and loves meeting new people and children. He is also really enjoying Sunday school. His comprehension and overall development are progressing beautifully. We are continuing to help him learn how to sit still and understand that there are moments when he needs to be quiet and not constantly entertained.
He absolutely loves his new toddler bed—his “big boy bed.” He is learning how to make it himself and proudly shows it to everyone. It has been wonderful to watch him grow in responsibility and truly enjoy growing up. NJ loves being a big brother. He is gentle and encouraging with baby P, and he celebrates his achievements. It is beautiful to see how naturally he cheers others on and seeks to be a good friend.