UPdate!

(I'm going to get my hair done today and taking this photo to the stylist)

RE: Matthew's atopic dermatitis - His skin is looking better since we started running the humidifier, using Aquaphor, and cutting back on baths. Since I went gangbusters and tried all remedies at once, I can't tell you which is the secret weapon!

RE: Matthew's super soaked diapers - At the recommendation of a few wise mamas I started double diapering him at night. Most mornings I find him with dry sheets, so that is great! During the day if we are out at a place where changing him isn't easy or sanitary, I sometimes still end up with a wet shirt if I am carrying him...even if he is wearing plastic pants over his diaper. But who has the money to double diaper your baby 100 times a day, so I will settle for doing extra laundry.

RE: Matthew's disinterest in doing hand movements to songs - It continues. He is flat out unconcerned about any spider going up a water spout. While he is starting to point, he finds no pleasure in clapping.

RE: Matthew's teeth - Still none.

RE: Matthew's talking - He continues to say "dada" indiscriminitely. It also seems as if has learned a variety of other sounds which he practices a lot. We think he sounds like The Cheat on Homestar Runner. He is very talkative in the morning!

New post & photos

New post & photos ---Adventures in babysitting -- at www.youbelong.net/goff.

Hope

I rec'd an Advent book in the mail yesterday from Buckner Int. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." For Christians, the focus of the entire season is celebrating of the birth of Jesus in His First Advent and anticipating Christ's return in His Second Advent. The 4 weeks of Advent reflect the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

Because of Buckner's ministry to orphans, they have a special love for the fatherless and for the families who adopt them. I would like to share the prayers found in this Advent book for orphans and families.

Yesterday's prayer: HOPE FOR THE FATHERLESS
Sovereign God, please wrap Your loving arms around Your fatherless children. Provide them the HOPE of an eternal Father, the HOPE of being part of a Godly family, and the HOPE of having a family of their own. Please show them the HOPE of the Savior as we celebrate the birth of Your Son.

Today's prayer: HOPE FOR THE FAMILIES
Father, there are so many families looking to take children into their hearts and homes. Give HOPE to the childless and HOPE to the adopting parents. Help the families know that You will work out all the details to Your glory. Provide HOPE in order that these families can make a difference in the lives of that special child You have chosen for them.

New post & photos

New post & photos -- First Fingerpainting -- at www.youbelong.net/goff

Don't hate me because my blog is beautiful!

Check out my new look! I feel like a new woman! A much needed improvement, for sure! If you are now experiencing blog envy...don't worry...you can have a new blog look, too! Just contact my BBFF Rebecca. While my blog was constructed by Rebecca under the "Blogs with Love" organization (www.blogoverswithlove.blogspot.com), Rebecca has since started her own design site to help fund her family's adoption expenses. It's a win-win thing because, no matter which way you go, you are supporting adoption and you will get a beautiful web site!

Rebecca's new site is www.designsbyrebecca.blogspot.com, and it has great examples of the diversity of her designs. Be sure to check it out!

Matthew Pao-palooza

OK...more video...and one of them is long...but my mom loved the last one so much that she called and wanted to buy me a Crate & Barrel gift card!!!! Expect a lot of videos from now on!
Just jokes!


I call this video montage "shake it, don't break it, took your mama 9 months to go through the adoption process." Matthew loves to shake everything he can....the cart at Target, the kitchen table, and especially his bed. When I go in to get him up, he is usually shaking his bed, so then I do it too. It never fails that when I shake it...because I shake it harder...he becomes quite concerned about "Lamby" (his little lamb that we sent him while he still lived in Taiwan), and he always wants to kiss him! So here are the videos!

Ghetto Christmas Parade

All bundled up!
Playing among the luminarias before the parade.

Tonight we walked up to our "Main Street" to watch the town Christmas Parade. Matthew was waving and waving. Some of the highlights were the Waste Collection trucks and a long line of low-riders decorated with lights. One "float" was a big truck full of girls listening to a Fergie-sounding song. I thought they were going to jump out and Ghost Ride da Whip (if you are unschooled in da Whip, just search it on youtube). There wasn't even a Santa...but did I mention all the low-riders??? We love, love, love our town...and what the parade lacked in class, they made up for in candy. Lots and lots of candy! Scott started picking some up and then that was all Matthew wanted to do. So we came home, put the baby to bed, and had a festive dinner of popcorn, Chips Ahoy, egg nog and parade candy!