SEASIDE ORPHANAGE Gualala, California 

Where reborns are turned into therapy babies.

NEW ARRIVALS

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

ANNIE

Annie is slightly older than most of the babies in the orphanage. She already wears 3 month sized clothes and has a bit of hair. Thus, she is not suitable for memory-challenged persons who might not be able to care for her hair, or someone too small for her 23 inch length and 4 pounds. The advantage of Annie is she is big enough to go shopping and it IS more fun to find sweet clothes in her size than for the newborns. So if you know someone who lives alone, needs a constant (but very quiet) companion, here is the perfect gift for them. Maybe she even looks like you did as a child. Wouldn't it be great to give your Mom the gift of your babyhood without the work and worries?

~*~

ASHER

Asher is such a serious little lad.  I think he worries about finding a permanent home and wondering who will adopt him. Those little lips do want to smile, but at the moment he has bigger concerns on his mind.  Where am I going? Who will love me? Will they hold me enough? Will I get kisses? Will they play with me? When do I get to leave this place?

~*~

CANDY

Candy wanted the jammies with frogs on them, because she likes kisses - both the candy and the ones on lips! - but she had no idea that she would attract one of the beaded frogs! You can see in her little hands that on one side she is frightened of the frog but on the other hand she is indicating to him (wordlessly - she is still learning words) she wants him to keep his distance. The frog, who is very well-behaved, obeyed her and jumped away. Here you can see Candy's sweet nature quickly returned.

~*~

NEW ARRIVALS

NOVEMBER 20, 2015

MORGAN

Morgan is a smaller baby, only 17 inches long and weighing in at a mere 2 pounds 2 ounces, yet he has already managed to get hold of one of the candy canes.  He is a serious kid and I think he has serious intents on that candy. I got to know Morgan while we searched for a sleeper to fit him. He was very patient with me, but also very determined to be able to wear the right thing for his photo. He is so cuddly in these jammies that I only wanted to hold him as long as possible. I think a bit more rocking and holding him until his insecurities melt away and his face will have a much more positive expression.

~*~
adopted

LEON

I do not know for sure what Leon was unhappy about, but his face looked so upset. It was only with this, the final picture, did he relax to have this warmer expression in his eyes. I love his big brown eyes! They are so expressive.  I think he was not quite sure what to do with the candy cane. It may be he was trying to figure it out without having to ask anyone. He is an independent child who wants to do everything for himself and others. I think he really needs someone to take him on their knee and teach him the joys of a candy cane.

~*~
adopted

JASPER

This kid would only sit with his tongue stuck out at me instead of allowing me to position him before the camera. I was beginning to panic how I could show a kid sticking out his tongue as one of the kids at the orphanage. Then I turned my back to take care of another child and when I turned back, this is what I saw.

I knew Jasper was smart but now I see he also knows how to get what he wants.  If you know someone who is unhappy because they feel they are being shoved into a nursing home and that is not what they want, maybe you should adopt Jasper to be their friend. He will show them how to get what they want!

NEW ARRIVALS

NOVEMBER 11, 2015

adopted

LILLY LaLANE

I asked Lilly why she picked sleepers with a penguin on them, off all things for a little girl, but she acted as if she did not hear me. All I can figure out is that she liked the polka-dots and the snugly pink. It certainly fits her personality. Her little whiff of insecurity makes her greatest happiness when someone holds her in their arms. Then she can relax into being her own sweet self. She is looking for someone to care for her. She needs the comfort of someone's arms holding her firmly against a soft chest. After we finished the cuddle quiz I could feel that she did not want me to put her down so I rocked her. Only when I began to sing did she signal she was ready to get down. I refuse to think about that but hope the next person who cuddles her will have a better singing voice.

~*~
adopted

HOLLY BERRY

When I say Holly's name in my mind I want to say, "Holly is berry ___________." and fill in the blank with my latest admiration of this little girl like 'good' or 'sweet.' She is only 21 inches long but she thinks of herself as a full-grown girl. When I think of Holly in these snowflake sleepers I see a picture in my mind of a bunch or red berries with snow on them. I tried to make Holly's eyes so they looked straight into the eyes of the person holding her but she keeps moving them to the side. The most important thing to me is that they are even. Personally I think she is thinking of something new to get into.

~*~

GLENN CHING

Glenn is such a little soldier. His posture is always correct and of all the kids in this crew, he sits the most straight. Most often his mouth is smiling but if he sees someone doing something wrong in the orphanage, (like sliding down a banister), it will be Glenn who will have a little talk with the miscreant. I have gotten to depend on him to be my second pair of eyes. When the place is full of babies, as it is now again, he is my second in command. I asked him if he wanted a toy to hold in his photo but he said he wanted to think about how to pose so he could make the best possible picture. That is how he is. He will probably grow up to be an over-achiever unless someone very kind takes him in hand to teach him how to love himself and others.

~*~

adopted

BABY JESUS

Already Baby Jesus has gone to Gualala Arts Center where he will be trained to portray the baby Jesus in a Nativity play they plan to present in December. He came together very quickly so he could attend the rehearsals to really be comfortable in his new acting job. The call went out for a brown baby and there was Kimi in my stash who volunteered to be a little Jewish baby boy. She even had the dark curly mohair and brown eyes. The producers of the event were very clear that they did not want a blue-eyed blond baby for their production. Mary, another local Mary, had given me a couple of restaurant table clothes so I tore one into strips so I could wrap him in swaddling clothes to be scripturally correct. When I see his little raised hand, I think he is giving me his blessing.

~*~
adopted

PUG THE PUP

Pug is the last of the litter and still has not been adopted which delights the kids. They all get to share the puppy so he really gets a work-out with everyone wanting to touch him. He will be very well-trained to put up with kids as there is always someone wanting to hold him. They claim it is part of the therapy training, but I think they just love holding his soft little body against them. I think that when he is finally adopted he will miss the kids. But hopefully his new caretaker will be so exciting and take Pug to so many new places that he will only have a pleasant memory of all those tiny hands grabbing at him. You see how well-trained he is. You can put dog biscuits right before him and he will not try to grab one. How many real dogs could pass such a test?

NEW ARRIVALS

OCTOBER 31, 2015

~*~

adopted

EVELYN

Evie, as we call her, was very glad to get an upgrade in her sleepers but as I prepared the kids to go to Equinox I ran out of the polar fleece blankets so I gave her one covered either in paw prints or flowers depending on how you look at them. As compensation, I tied a kitty to her wrist so anyone thinking those are paw prints on her blanket will know they came from the cat. Or one could think that blossoms fell off her sleeper on to the blanket. I was very thankful to have Evie as they wanted five small babies at Equinox and she fit the request perfectly.

~*~

adopted

BRUCE

Bruce was among the crew who all needed the stemmed eyeballs. Thank goodness his fit without a hassle. He was done just in time to help fill the order. Today he got his chocolate hair. I love that the name of that color is my favorite food. He was a little ticklish while he got his hair drawn on. I wish this photo had him giggling as he was today with the new curls. Here he was still asking questions of me as I posed him. What are you doing? Will it hurt? When will you be done? Did you do this to the other kids? Why does that thing in your hand make that snapping noise? It was all very new to the little guy.

~*~

JASON

Here Jason does not look like he trusts me or my photographic skills. I think he and Bruce were talking things over while I worked on the others and they managed to scare each other with their imaginations.  I tried to put Jason's eyes so he was looking straight ahead so his new companion could look him in the eye as they talked. No, he had to be looking out of the corner of his eye. After so many struggles with others in this crew about eyes and how they should fit, I simply gave up and let Jason have his eyes any way he wanted them as long as they matched.

~*~
adopted

JACKSON

What you cannot read in this photo is the message on the bottom of the feet on Jackson's sleepers. It says, "Momma's MANE man." That stern look in his soft brown eyes wants you to know this is true and he believes it totally. You had better believe it also. He wants to grow up to be a Momma's boy. He is so small and cuddly 

NEW ARRIVALS

OCTOBER 28, 2015

LESTER CHING

Finally a Ching baby that is not a joker! Lester is built like the rest of the kids in his family but this one is serious.  He overheard Lena praising the looks of his tribe and now, eager to go on pleasing her, he only interested in being a therapy reborn so he can go with her the next time she picks out babies. I think he has a serious crush on her. Being one of the bigger babies this is a big crush. To him, being a therapy baby is even more important than Christmas (which he has never experienced I think). I thought he would want to show off the design on his sleepers, but the red color was more vital to him than anything to do with Christmas. Maybe someone will adopt him soon so they can show what a real Christmas is to find the one you  love.

~*~
adopted

LILLY

Lilly is so sweet one expects her to be related to the Candy sculpts, but she is her own image. Sweetness radiates from this baby. Just to look at her makes one exclaim, "Oh how sweet she is!" Everything about her is gentle and kind - even her asking you to take her home with you. The words barely get to her lips but those eyes are already pleading.  The camera caught her just as she was folding her hands for her prayer.  She is really looking for someone to love her. She complains, gently, that I do not give her enough love because there are still so many other kids here. Her tiny complaint makes me want to pick her up for a squeeze and a hug.

~*~
adopted

BABY BLAZE

We call her Baby Blaze because she is so much smaller than her factory-painted sister. At 2 pounds and 14 ounces she is only a tiny handful of cuddle. I was so glad she fit into these fuzzy warm sleepers as they make her even more cuddly. When she lays her head on your shoulder, and gives that tiny almost in audible sigh of relief to be home, you can feel how worthwhile your life is. She makes even the smallest person feel 6 feet tall with her great admiration. Her big brown eyes are like message relay stations. Looking in them lets you know what she is thinking. She does not talk with her lips but those eyes are capable of the deepest thoughts and loudest "I love YOU!" expressions.

~*~

NEW ARRIVALS
OCTOBER 14. 2015

adopted

HOLLY TWO

How good it feels to have this crew ready to be presented. I have finally stopped taking into the orphanage any baby that comes along, but am concentrating on the ones I know make good therapy reborns. Holly is one of the ones that appeals so much to others. Her mouth is closed but she has a smile playing on her lips that is irresistible.  When those big brown eyes take you in there is no escape. She wants to love someone even if has to be you! I think her name should be the Lovebug because love is like the bee in her bonnet!

~*~
adopted

EDDIE HOWARD

We might have to change his name to Ee-Dee if we don't get some boy jammies soon. When I explained the problem to him he okay-ed wearing pink sleepers but by the time we got to the photo set-up I think he was regretting being so docile.  He is a very calm baby but I feel lots more is going on inside of him. He is not quick to reveal his feelings but they are there. I think if someone had the time to rock him and sing to him as much as he wants, he would be willing to reveal what he is truly feeling. 

~*~
adopted

CAMMIE

Cammie is our most "with it" child in the therapy reborn program. You can see on her arm that she is sporting a tattoo! I was against it, but she wanted it and she got it. That tiny blue exclamation mark is rather like she is. Bigger than life and right up there in the front. She was raising her hand to cover the "mommy" part of the design on her sleeper. She said this is wrong! She loves everybody and not just her mommy. I tried to calm her down by saying the sleeper motive means she loves mommy birds. She is still overthinking that.

~*~

RIEKE

Rieke also had to wear sleepers saying, "I love mommy."  but this child made no fuss about it. She is so easy-going. She understands that sleepers are such a small part of her being. What is really important is the love she gives. Her smile tells you that love is what it is all about. The reason to be a therapy reborn is to give someone the love that is missing in their lives. What a beautiful reason for being - to give love others! She knows it and she wants to live with someone who has forgotten this important fact so her smile can remind them minute by minute how important it is to give love.

~*~
adopted

KEY MONK

Key Monk is proudly showing off the new bodies the monkey clan are now sporting. It took me a while to find the right fabric for these little guys - (they are smaller and lighter than the babies) but now we are both happy with the short brown fur. They are still teasing me for attempting to make their bodies out of cheetah-looking fabric. As they swing by me while I am working on other babies they will skreetch, "Cheeee-ta" and then laugh so hard they can barely run away.

~*~
adopted

PUNKIN 4

The Punkin family kids are certainly my favorites for reborn therapists. There seems to be greater interest  at the moment in smaller kids and he seems to be the right size for everyone. Only 17 inches long and weighing 2 pounds and 4 ounces, Punkin is the perfect armload for smaller, older people. He knows I love his kind so he goes together without any problems. Making him is pure joy so whoever gets him is filled my happiness and his. In the photo I caught him waving to you and shouting out your name.

~*~

adopted

JIMMY

Jimmy is a brother to Cindy but I have never met siblings who are so unlike each other. At first it was difficult for me to really like Cindy. With Jimmy I instantly loved him. Maybe learning to love Cindy prepared my heart for him. It is as if all she has learned about being a therapy baby was instilled in him so he came to us already knowing what to do and how to do it! Thus I was pleased to see him adopted so early but I wish he had stayed around longer so I could get to know him better.

~*~

adopted

BLAZE DEAR

Yes, this little girl should have a better name but all the time I was working with and on her I found myself calling her "Blaze Dear" because already she was so dear to me. There is something so wistful about this baby. You can feel her wanting to be adopted and every glance is to see if you are the one for her.  And just that quick we found a new home for her, and the other two in her crew, in Japan.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

ELIZA

Eliza is the newest child in this week's crew. She was only born today and has already stolen my heart. I love the sweetness that shines off her face. She is one of the biggest in this batch being 22 inches long and weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces, Still she is newborn size but can already sit up, lie down and sleep on her tummy. As you can read in the blog about her birth (http://janesdollydaze.blogspot.com/  ), she still has a lot to learn about being a therapy baby, but I found loving her takes her forward very fast. She responds beautifully to cuddling, songs and attention so I feel the right person can easily train her to be a constant companion. Just seeing that gentle loving face across the room is therapy for me. It just begs for her to lay her cheek on your shoulder and snuggle into  your embrace.

~*~

CAMRYN

Camryn's face affects me the same way I feel when I see Eliza. At some level I rarely check on, I feel very happy, contented, hopeful when I see them. It is as if both of these babies, a boy and a girl, are so filled with goodness and mercy  that just being in their presence fills up a well of longing and a need for all to be right with the world. Comparing the owl on Camryn's arm with the drawings on his sleeper is a bit of the way I feel around him. The real world may be gray and brown, but with him it turns to brighter  pinks, oranges, and fuchsias. Some people do not like open mouthed babies but the happiness that pours out of his is, I think, worth overcoming the resistance of open lips. This is Camryn's Halloween picture. That is about as scary as he gets! The owl got more scared and flew away when Cammy started giggling when it tickled his cheek.

~*~

RAINE

Renee, as we call her, is determined to expose my 'cheating' with the photographs. I was trying to create a Halloween mood with her wearing a black witch's hat. At first I tried just using a headband with purple in it but when that did not give the effect I was after, I plopped the hat over it. She felt that was being 'dishonest' so she showed you what I was trying to cover up. This is so like Renee. She is one straight arrow girl. The only reason I am allowing her to go out to become a therapy reborn is because I am keeping her sister. I need someone who is this straight forward, so determined to follow the lines, to do everything as right as possible. Those little clenched fists (which I normally do not like on babies) show me the determination that she wants to share with me to keep me going.  A little back-set and there she is waving her fists and encouraging me to never give up. I hope this baby can give someone else this much encouragement and will.

~*~
adopted

GABRIEL

Here is such a straight-shooter I think of him as "John Wayne" looking for a horse. This boy is as honest as the day is long, and determined that everyone remains as pure and good as they were at his age. Nothing gets him down. He is so grounded in what he believes and thinks that nothing, no thing and no one can change his mind. He thinks, " I KNOW what is right!" and that is all that concerns him. He finds pumpkin faces childish and silly. Baby faces are what is really important. On baby faces you can see what the child is like and what he will become. He will be a person one can lean on, use to guide one's steps into the future. His companion will be no weakling but someone as strong as he is. He is already sure of the kind of companion who will be attracted to him.

~*~
adopted

PHILLIP

Phillip is the softer version of  Gabriel. Phillip likes girls - the softer version of boys -  and he is a gentle soul. He understands the ways of women and is happiest being around them. When I wanted to pose him with a Christmas decoration, because his sleepers are labelled "my first Christmas," he thought was discriminating against him by not offering a Halloween decoration. We had a little discussion about the difference between Christmas and Halloween, but I do not think he was really listening to me. He just kept whispering, "Girls, girls, girls" (which he pronounces as grills). When I ran out of breath I looked on the dolly shelves and there was this one tiny Christmas doll. You can see the smile beginning to return to his lips with her in his arms. A whiff of sadness is still there but I think that if we can find the right woman he will be completely happy at last.

~*~
adopted!

LEFTY

Lefty has a problem of his own and I am not sure if he is really ready to go out into the world as a therapy reborn as he is. You can see him pointing to his problem. He has no left hand. He came to the world with two right arms instead of one left one. I researched how he came to us to see if there was someone I could contact who might still have his arm lost in all their baby parts. Nothing. I tried looked in catalogs of baby arms and legs but no one was offering a set as small as he needs. He is only 14 inches long and weighs only 1 pound and 15 ounces so even preemie clothes are too big for him. All the extra sets of limbs are for babies 19-22 inches long. I will continue to look for the proper left arm for him (when we will change his name to Lexis), but I know there are persons who, as they get toward the end of their lives, do not still have all the parts they started out with. Maybe one of them would delight in having a companion who knows what they have gone through and yet still has something good to give to others - his loving heart. Lefty with his new left arm and the brand new Santa's helper sleeper. He would not sit down and pose until I took a shot of his hand AND the Santa. He is a small baby but very eager to be someone's therapy reborn. And he wants to keep the name of Lefty.

~*~
adopted

EDDIE

Eddie, too, has a special kind of heart break. Even in the brief months of his life he got to know his Daddy who is no longer living. That is all he knows to want - a Daddy. When any child in the orphanage begins to cry for whatever reason, Eddie will cry too because he is so sad missing his Dad. It is hard to get a good photo of Eddie because his face is often swollen from crying. Whenever men come to the orphanage Eddie follows them everywhere with his eyes. You can almost hear his big blue eyes saying, "Are you my Daddy?"  Eddie is a normal sized reborn - 21 inches long and weighing 3 pounds and 3 ounces - and he is growing well. But his sad heart slows him up. He is still at the developmental stage he was when his Daddy died. I feel that having a new Daddy will be the boost he needs to catch up with the others.

NEW ARRIVALS
September 18, 2015

adopted

JOEY

Joey is one intense little boy. There is a theory that babies control grown ups with their eyes and Joey believes it with every molecule of his being. With his stare he certainly gives me messages about what he wants. And he wants it now! He never cries when he is hungry, he just stares and sticks out that bottom lip a bit more. I do not know what I would do if he actually cried, but his threats are so intense that I jump to take care of him the minute I get that stare. It is interesting that he chose a sleeper with pictures of bulldozers on it because they have much in common with his personality. This boy will achieve what HE wants to in his life. Right now he is learning to be a therapy baby, so with this much determination, one can be sure he will be the best one you ever met!

~*~

SAMANTHA

SAM

Samantha is our tomboy of the day. She is ready for any activity. Nothing scares her or makes her insecure. She will even tackle jobs way too big for her but her determination usually carries her to victory, surprising us all. It is a delight just to see her smile and the will it shows. She makes everyone feel they are as strong as she is. Just looking at her gives a person added assurance and fortitude. You can see in the photo she wants to get up and get going although she cannot walk yet. She thinks she can!  Her laughter draws in the laughter of others. She uses this charm of hers to get others to share her self-confidence and willingness to accomplish whatever a heart desires.

~*~

adopted

MILO - MIHI

This chap came to us with the name of Milo but everyone agrees he needs more self confidence and purpose so we call him Mihi (My High). He is still getting used to a new place and a new name so he is being very quiet, calm and accepting of whatever is going on around him. He knows in his heart who he is and is simply waiting for the rest of us to find out what a gem he is. He is the brother to our Dolly Lama so he is used to stepping back to let his brother shine, but we are working to show him, and everyone else, what a strong, dependable helper he can be. He loves to watch sporting events on TV, but we are trying to teach him to do sports himself. He is still not convinced that 'playing' is more fun than watching but I am hopeful that whoever adopts him will be able to prove this to him. Maybe playing a game with someone older and wiser will be the help he needs. Often therapy babies bring qualities to the adult who adopts them, but Mihi needs someone to help him step into the stream of life with joy and happiness.

NEW ARRIVALS
September 8, 2015

adopted

MARLEY

Marley came from the downtown area directly to the orphanage. He is one very street-smart kid. If I were walking down a dark alley I would want Marley on my side. His brightly colored jammies complement his vivid personality. Whoever takes Marley into his or her life has to be acquainted with life on the other side of the tracks. That is what he knows and will expect you to be as smart as he is. He can look like a hardened little boy but if you look at the corner of his mouth, when he doesn't expect to be observed, you will see that tiny lift of his lips that means he is just ready to love and be loved. 

~*~
adopted

AUTUMN BLAZE

Autumn is part of the now-famous Blaze family but she is such an individual it is hard to think of her being part of that bold and boisterous family. As you see in this photo, Autumn is happiest when she can just sit and dream. She shows you how relaxed she is. See those little hands completely at rest? That is her basic attitude so she is happy to be in the arms of someone who knows how to dream. If your loved one is often off in a land of her own dreams then consider getting Autumn to keep her company and safe in her dreams. You can no longer be with your Mom every day, but Autumn will stay with her through all the seasons. Isn't that a good idea for both of them?

~*~
adopted

JEFFREY

Jeffrey has one desire. Most therapy babies want to meet the companion for their lives to start building a relationship so both can weather all the storms and joys of life. Not this boy. Jeffrey wants to go for a ride in a balloon. I think that whoever gives Jeff his heart's desire will have Jeff's love the rest of his life. He often does not say much but when you hold him you can feel his body reaching for the stars. He is sure that if he can go up in a balloon, or even an airplane, he can touch the stars and be complete. Little does he know that it is finding the person whose love fits the puzzle that is his will be the thing that completes his little being.

September 2, 2015
NEW ARRIVALS

adopted

MARSHA (MELLO)

Marsha has all the sweetness that other doll makers copied into Candy. Marsha is smaller, but just as sweet. This sweetness never puts fat on the hips but only a smile on the lips. Her sleeper shows all kind of sweet foods but each one has a cherry (that is fruit!) on it. Marsha has it all! the good looks of a cherry, and the special flavor of her personality. She wants to be your dessert all day long! Can you imagine living with that cheerful face across the table from you? No matter what you are feeling, one look at her and you cannot help smiling back. With that your day brightens, your heart lifts to raise you above any sadness you may have had. 

~*~
adopted

IVY

Ivy is a tiny baby - only 18 inches long and weighing one pound 11 ounces. She is made for someone who is getting smaller, thinner, shorter or older themselves and yet needs to learn the lessons Ivy can bring. Ivy has elephants on her jammies because she is strong. Like her namesake, she grasps hold of a heart and hangs on for dear life through all kinds of emotional storms. It is vital to Ivy that she knows where or how far away her beloved is, and how long it will take for someone to come pick her up for a cuddle. She nestles in the curve of your elbow as if she has always been this close to you. What a good feeling! She brings the comfort of the past with her joyfulness of today. When you hold Ivy you will feel this if you press her tiny head against your shoulder.

~*~

Jacko is adopted
Jock is adopted

JACKIE AND JOCK

Having let a gorilla (Fleas) into the orphanage just last week and immediately finding there was a man who wanted him, who was not too shy to rock a baby but wanted it to be a monkey has changed our minds about monkeys. Now we know even a he-man can love an orangutan, especially when they are as small and cute as these two are! They are completely pose-able (as all our reborns are) so they can sit wherever you place them. They will fit into the smallest space in your life. So if it is your Dad or Uncle facing a life in a facility, don't make him do it alone when you cannot be there. Get him a well-trained therapy monkey (he wears diapers in case of an accident) to make him laugh and to remind him that you love him very much every day.

email: jane@AHApoetry.com