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!