New Year's Eve

The last day of 2008 was a fun filled day. Reagan and I decided to attack mommy with dinosaurs. We had so much fun, but I do not think mommy was too enthusiatic about that. We also had so much fun pig piling daddy and mommy as well. When it was time for bed, I gave Reagan a hug. It was hard for me to get to sleep because I saw shadows and I thought they were monsters and they were going to bite me. Mommy and daddy put on some music and I fell asleep. The adults just wanted us kids asleep so that they could party and ring in the New Year by themselves.

Over the bridge and through the corn fields to the beach we go!!

This morning Amy picked up mommy and I and we drove to Fenwick Island Delaware to celebrate New Years at the beach. Once we got there we had lunch and took a nap. However, I was sick and had a fever mommy gave me some medicine and my fever went down. Then we went to Harpoon Hannahs for dinner and Daddy was there he drove to the beach this afternoon and met us there!!! We had to leave the restaurant early because I really was not feeling well and my fever went up. So mommy and daddy took me back to the beach house and put me to bed. The next day I did not have a fever anymore!!

Early birthday celebration at Chuck-E-Cheeses!

Tonight Mommy, Daddy, and I met up with Aunt Amy, Abbey, Aunt Karen, Uncle Corey, Reagan, and Harrison at Chuck-E-Cheeses. Aunt Karen wished me and early Happy Birthday! We had so much fun riding on the rides, playing games, and even watching Chuck-E sing. We even got to eat pizza!! It was a very fun evening and I did not want to leave. Mommy and Daddy said I had to go home to go to bed because tomorrow morning I had to wake up early to go to the beach.

Playing with my cousins.

Today Mommy and Daddy took me to Pops and Gams house to play with Abbey, Reagan, and Harrison. We had so much fun together playing in the basement!! We were all tired and I fell asleep in the car ride home.

Celebrating Christmas for the second time!

Aunt Karen and Corey and my Cousins Reagan and Harrison came into town last night. We celebrated Christmas again with them at Pops and Gams house. Amy, Scott, Abbey, Gi, Gina, Sean, and Anthony were there too. This is the first time the Merulla-Shaw family were all together!! It was so much fun and I got to open presents with Abbey, Reagan, and Harrison.

Come aboard the B&O!

Today we went to see some real size trains in Baltimore at this train museum. They were all in a roundhouse, which was used to fix trains. There were also several miniature train sets, and many Christmas decorations. We got to go in a few trains, including one that used to be a mail car. Then we got to ride a real train! Actually, it was a MARC train, but it was a fun ride anyway. The other really big news today was that I wore underwear for four hours today without getting wet!

Christmas dinner at Pops and Gams

Later on Christmas Day, when I was getting up from my nap, Nona called from Sedona, Arizona. Then mommy, daddy, and I went over to Pop's and Gam's for Christmas dinner! My cousin Abbey was already there. Even though we're opening presents on Saturday when the Browns get in (they arrive late Friday night), I got to open a set of cars, and enjoyed playing with them inside Abbey's dollhouse. She didn't seem to mind. We also gave Gi her gift, a pair of socks with rubber on the bottom, and some body lotion and wash.



I had fun playing with Abbey, Amy, Gina, Anthony, Sean, Harriet, Gi, Pops, and Gams, and oh yes, mommy and daddy. I didn't want to eat much of the delicious dinner, so Aunt Amy let me share a shake with Abbey. Thank you Amy and Abbey! I was sad to leave, but am looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday.

Santa Claus Came to Town!

Santa Claus finally came! From someone that my mom used to work for, I got a cool car that runs the length of the house! It makes a lot of noise. Luckily daddy found the mute switch, so now it doesn't make so much noise! Thank you!

Here I am opening some more presents. I got a nice card and bedsheets for my toddler bed from Nona and Stacey. Thank you!

From my mom's friend Dawn, I got these cool dinosaurs. I was scared when daddy made them make noise, but after I learned how to make them move and make noise myself, I wasn't afraid of them anymore! Thank you! I listen to a dinosaur song on the way home from daycare school every day!



Here are some presents I got from Santa. Unfortunately for mommy and daddy, the talking tool set doesn't have a mute button! I also got a marker set that only works on the paper, so I won't be able to write on the floor. Thank you!

From Grandma and Grandpa, I got some games and puzzles, and some matchbox cars that my daddy had when he was little, and a book that a friend of my daddy gave him when they were both little. Thank you!

I got a haircut by myself!

Daddy was so proud of me yesterday that I went for a haircut, and sat in the barber's chair all by myself! No crying or fussing like the last few times, and noone had to hold me, except at the end when doing some final touches. The nice haircutter gave me a lollipop. Then we went to CVS to buy some last minute cards.

This evening daddy reads at Christmas Eve Mass, and there will be a children's choir and dramatization of the Gospel. Then we're having dinner at Renato's. Hope I stay awake through all of this! I'm also looking forward to seeing everyone over the next few days.

My Great-Aunt Mary Aleese's annual Christmas Party

This morning we said goodbye to my grandma and grandpa, and this afternoon I got to see Pops and Gams! Four grandparents in one day! My second cousins Logan and Katie played with me and took such great care of me, that I didn't want to leave! They let mommy and daddy talk with the other adults, while I played with cars and ate pizza. I enjoyed seeing my cousin Abbey, great-grandma Gi, and Uncle Scott and Aunt Amy.

My daddy's birthday

Yesterday was my daddy's birthday, so the three of us went to a nice restaurant in Olney for dinner, then we gave daddy his presents. My uncle Gary and his three girls called and sang Happy Birthday to daddy over the phone. I can't wait to see them January 3rd! Then my babysitter came, and mommy and daddy went to a movie. This morning we went to my grandma and grandpa Fosko's house. We had a pumpkin cake, and helped my daddy blow out the candles on his cake. Happy birthday daddy, I love you!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Again, no pictures, but yesterday I helped daddy put up the Christmas tree. I kept singing 'Santa Claus is coming to town!' I also enjoyed turning on a tabletop Santa that plays music and rocks back and forth. Last year I was afraid of this Santa. But like my cousin Abbey, I might not be ready to sit on Santa's lap. After mommy put the rest of the decorations on we went Christmas shopping at Wheaton Plaza. I liked seeing Santa from a distance, then said 'Santa's going to bite me', which is my way of saying I was afraid of Santa.

I got to see a Navy destroyer today!

My dad's friend Ed was made commander of a ship today, so we went to the commissioning in Norfolk, and had a nice tour of the ship. Daddy forgot batteries for the camera, so we don't have any pictures. I was scared of some of the noises the ship made, but enjoyed the food in the officer's eating area, and at the party afterwards. I saw a lot of friendly sailors and Navy officers. My dad's friend will be in and out of port for the next year and a half of his assignment.

My daddy's coursin Christine's wedding

Today we went to a neat wedding. The theme was Eagles and Giants, as in football! My daddy's cousin Christine wore a green dress to express her liking of the Eagles. One of her children was dressed in a New York Giants jersey. Each table had either a Giants or Eagles baloon, and the game was on after the ceremony. There were some blowup football helmets, and I enjoyed playing tackle with mommy and daddy, and some other guests. I also saw my second cousin Ava, who is a year old. My dad's uncle Frank was dressed up as a referee. I had lots of fun. Congratulations, Christine and Jeff!

A trip down memory lane

This morning we went to have breakfast at this neat hotel in Tunkhannock. I got to sit in an antique wooden high chair, and played with some wooden toys, and a wooden Noah's Ark. Much safer than the toys today. Cheaper food too, $15 for breakfast.

Then we went to a museum called Miniature Memories, inside Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Scranton. I loved the choo-choo trains and the cars, and the miniature town. I didn't want to leave. But mommy bought me a stuffed polar bear. I haven't gotten to stuff myself yet with the candy she bought.

While I was taking a nap after lunch, mommy and daddy went to Towanda, PA, where my great-great-great-great-grandparents Lorin and Electa Shaw are buried. Daddy can't go anywhere without doing some genealogy! Wonder what he is going to do next weekend when we go to Norfolk, VA. Tonight we went to a restaurant called Remington's in Tunkhannock, and they had a talking deer with a Santa's hat! I thought it was cute at first, but then daddy picked me up for a closer look, and I got terrified! Even our waitress coming over and showing how it talked and moved didn't satisfy me. I wanted no part of that talking deer! I kept saying 'reindeer going to bite me'.

I'm now legally Robert Joseph!

Mommy and daddy and I went to the Baltimore County Courthouse in Towson today for a court hearing to legally change my name and to get a Maryland certificate of foreign birth. Now my name is really Bobby, and the Maryland birth certificate will make it much easier to sign me up for things like 3-year old soccer next spring.

To clarify, this was a readoption. My adoption was finalized February 27, 2007 in Guatemala when my birth mother Maria signed the final decree. And no, this didn't make me a U.S. Citizen. Going through customs in Houston on April 19th, 2007 made me a U.S. Citizen.

After going to court, we then went to St. Joseph Friary in York, PA. One of the friars that Kevin knew lives there, and gave me some Oreos, and let me play with the rosary on his habit. Mommy and daddy had some wonderful pumpkin cake that the friar's mom had made.

After that we had lunch, and went to Tunkhannock, PA where my daddy's cousin Christine is getting married on Sunday. We went over the river and through the woods, and over the river, and through some more woods, and over the same river again (the Susquehanna) to get there. No, we weren't lost, Interstates 83 and 81 are straighter than the meandering river!

Thanksgiving 2008

We went to Pops and Gams for Thanksgiving dinner. My great-grandmother Gi was there, as well as Uncles Anthony and Scott, and Aunt Amy, as well as my cousin Abbey. Oh yeah, my mommy and daddy were there too. I spent most of my time with Abbey, so much that I didn't really eat dinner. She started and finished her dinner before I started mine, so all I wanted to do was go and play.

Here we are playing with the Gymboree wave drum and singing 'I hear thunder'

Trains, Planes, Automobiles, Oh, My!

Today my new bedroom carpet arrived! I loved the train, helicopters and cars on it. Now my bedroom really looks cool, and will keep my feet warm too. I have a great place to play in my room now. Thanks mommy and daddy!

Play date with Abbey

Today mommy and daddy took me to Abbey's house for me to play with her. Aunt Amy, Uncle Scott, and Pooper the cat were there too. I also practiced going poopy myself, as I am being potty trained. When we were leaving, Pops and Gams pulled up, and I got to see them. I've been having trouble saying goodbye lately. I was a little better when we left, but when daddy went to teach religion class two weeks ago, I cried for twenty minutes. I don't like changes I guess.

Surprise visit to Pops and Gams!

Mommy wanted to try to set a playdate with my cousin Abbey, and Aunt Amy told mommy that they were going over to see Pops and Gams later that day. So, I got to play with my cousin Abbey, and have fun with Pops and Gams too! I guess I was off the snowman binge, because I cried all the way home "I want Gams...." :(

I want to build a snowman!

Mommy and daddy mentioned that we might get some snow flurries yesterday, so guess what I wanted to do, build a snowman! I tortured mommy and daddy all weekend by saying 'I want to build a snowman'. Sadly, there was no snow to be found within a hundred miles.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit today!

When I woke up from my nap, Grandma and Grandpa Fosko were here! They brought me a new toy to play with, and played ball and Legos with me. I had lots of fun. I can't wait to see them next month after daddy's birthday!

I hope you're a better librarian than you are a plumber!

Daddy put in a new toilet last February, and this week we found out that he didn't put it in correctly, and now we have to get mold removed from the toilet area and the kitchen underneath. Uncle Corey, maybe you better come supervise daddy whenever he tries his next home repair job. Or maybe he should just stick to teaching CCD and cataloging books! Next Thursday some professional home repair people will remediate the mold, and then fix the ceiling and tile.

Dream Dinners Aug. 24th

Mommy, daddy, and I went to Dream Dinners to pick up our food for the month and we bumped into Anita and her daughter Sydney. At one point I had a tantrum and the only person that I would let hold me was Anita. She actually got me to calm down to relax. Thank you so much Anita!!! Mommy and daddy thank you too!! I had a great time seeing Yihung (the owner of Dream Dinners), Anita, and Sydney. Daddy took a picture of Mommy, Sydney, Anita and I.

City Island’s Riverside Village Park Aug. 23rd

Mommy and daddy were planning to take me to an adventure park in Frederick, MD, but on the way I fell asleep. So that I could get a decent nap, daddy drove to Harrisbug, PA. We went to City Island’s RiverSide Village Park, which overlooks the Susquehanna River and the Harrisburg skyline. While we were there, I got to ride on the carousel and even the train. I had a lot of fun.

Weekend at the Beach Aug 8th-10th

We spent the weekend at the beach with Pops, Gams, Amy, Scott, and Abbey. I had so much fun playing with Abbey. Amy even brought an inflatable pool to put on the deck. Mommy and Amy filled up the pool while Abbey and I were talking a nap, but when we woke up we could not go in the pool because some bad storms happened. We stopped in Annapolis and had a great dinner. I even had hush puppies and I loved them. It was a great weekend.

Reptiles, Bears, and Water, Oh My! 7/26/08

Today we saw a crocodile show. My cousin Reagan actually touched a baby crocodile. I would have no part of that! I was content with the Slushee that Aunt Karen bought my cousin Harrison and I. Bears were are next destination. The drive through the park was fun, and we saw a whole bunch of bears. Then we went to the baby animal part of the park. While my cousins saw some baby animals, I just wanted to run around and then have daddy hold me, but he kept making me run. Mean daddy finally picked me up! Mommy and daddy went on a date together to enjoy our last night in South Dakota. I decided that I did like water after all, and had a ball with Aunt Karen, Uncle Corey, Reagan and Harrison in the water park. Mommy and daddy were so surprised, and glad, that I enjoyed myself in the water. They said they would get me a pool when we got home.