I'm Coming Home

I see my Princess tomorrow.

Not Much From CJ

Today was a busy day for Mommy and Daddy so the conversation was brief during the day. By the time the parents spoke in the evening CJ was sleeping soundly because she did not take a nap during the day. Mommy did manage to tell me that CJ was running around the house with no clothes on saying, "Naked!" I think she picked that up from her uncles.

We have two more nights to go before Daddy gets to see his Princess. Daddy is planning a short trip for them to get CJ some sneakers. he promised to get her a new pair when he came home. Also Mommy needs a break from her. Daddy is going to make sure that he has his Skype set up next week so he can chat with CJ live. Daddy has a big day ahead of him that will impact the families future. Daddy will make sure he is prayed up before entering all of his meetings. Daddy knows that prayer changes things, people, and situations!

Careful Daddy

Well today will be the third night I am not there to see CJ to sleep. As Daddy sits and chats with his staff he ponders what he will do with CJ on Friday. he promised her sneakers but that will not be to fun. So he must think a bit more. Of course he made sure he called CJ bright and early. When he finally heard from CJ she talked to him well. She said, "Careful Daddy." So Daddy must be on his best behavior. So far Daddy is getting his rest, eating properly, and even walking across campus versus driving.

So Daddy is listening to his Princess so he can arrive back at the castle safely as directed. Keep praying for Daddy as he wrestles with work and life. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Day Two Away

CJ finally got to go on a swing.

The First Night Away

So tonight is the first night I am away from my Princess and I get a call from Mommy telling me that she went to the bathroom in the potty. Of course Daddy was not there.

Summertime

School is out and Daddy is about to do his program. It will be a interesting summer.

Black-Eyed CJ

On the way home today Daddy received a different phone call. As Daddy strained to see the car ahead of him through the hard rainfall Mommy told him that CJ had fell and bruised herself pretty bad. So Daddy was interested to see this face when he picked CJ up. When Daddy arrived to the sitter he was met with a running and cheerful CJ and a very sad sitter. The bruise is bad and CJ will black and blue up in by the morning but these things happen. Daddy ssured the sitter that all was well and that she should eat and calm down.

Mommy brought every medicinal item she could to treat the eye. Daddy somply said, "Its her first black-eye," of course he is not loving the fact that her face is jacked up but she will be OK. CJ seems to be fine and Daddy talked with the sitter to let her know that. We will pray that her healing is smooth and clear! Prayer changes things, people and situations.

Walmart

Daddy does not understand how but CJ recognizes Walmart. Whenever we are there she days "Walmart" throughout the store. Today was different. She picked up a receipt and said, "Walmart". Mommy and Daddy both are stunned. How does she know this?

Fathers Day 2011

Daddy made it. This was the first Father's Day Daddy and CJ were well and together. We woke up this morning and headed out to worship early. Today we had two services. CJ was well behaved in both. After dinner with the family, Mommy and CJ took Daddy to get his gift. Daddy got his helmet and the bike is soon to come. As Daddy said earlier, CJ celebrates him daily every tome she says, "Daddy" Daddy will take that over any gift.

You all know to pray for our continued development. Prayer still changes things, people, and situations. Prayer helps in development too!

CJ Seems To Be FIne

So Mommy was diagnosed yesterday, she has strp throat and has been walking around the house with masks on to keep her disease to herself. Today was Daddy's turn at the doctor. The good news is that Daddy does not have strep throat. However he has someting and the doctor prescribed some medication to clear it up. So Daddy is still running strong and now is getting the assistance he needs. The great thing about all of this is that CJ is fine. CJ is walking, talking, destroying and getting into any and everthing she can. No coughing, no eating issues, and no diaper issues to be concerned about. Daddy is glad becasue he gets miserable when his Princess is not reigning as normal.

Today CJ played a trick on her Daddy. It is normal for CJ to run and hide in different places around the house. Usually she does a horrible job, lol. Today as Daddy used the laptop CJ was off and running. Out the corner of his eye Daddy saw he r go into the bedroom. The problem was that when he went in there was no sign of CJ. Daddy called out her name but no response. Daddy then went into the bathroom but CJ was not in there. Back into the living room he went but CJ was nowhere in sight. Just when he was about to ge concern he heard something bumpo into a wall. He went into the closet and who did he find coming from behind a bin but CJ. Daddy will admit loud and clear that he was getting very concerned until he heard that thud. He could not get mad at her because Daddy is a prankster too and he now has to wait to get CJ back some how.

SO folks lets pray that Daddy's health progresses, and CJ remains unharmed throughout the weekend and beyond. Prayer changes things, people, and situations!

Strep Throat

The diagnosis is in, Mommy has Strep Throat. It was this exact same time last year that CJ had strep and then Daddy caught it from her. Daddy missed the big Father's Day lunch at the church and he missed Father's Day worship service. Daddy spent the entire morning in the emergency room. His first Father's Day will always be memorable. So it is today a year later and Daddy is yet again the recipient of Strep Throat maybe. Daddy's throat has been in pain all week, towards the end it became better but it is sore none the less.

Daddy is just trying to enjoy his second Father's Day. he goes tomorrow to get his diagnosis, which he hopes is not to bad. The good thing is that CJ is seeming to have immunity this time. Daddy prays that she continues to be strong because he does not want to go through her being sick.

So keep Daddy and CJ in your prayers folks. Pray we get to enjoy our second Father's Day together! We know prayer WILL change things, people, and situations. We also know they sickness is a joke to prayer!

CJ and Names

So when Daddy and Mommy went to pick CJ up she was outside enjoying the sun. When she came in the other child's mother was walking down the hall and CJ looked up and called her by name. Both Daddy and Mommy were taken aback but the sitter just said, "You got a smart baby!" Let's pray that she continues to value learning. Prayer changes things. people, and situations.

Graduation Day

Today was CJ's Uncle Duke's graduation from high school. CJ and Daddy had to ride as a duo because Mommy is really sick. Daddy and CJ got a late start this morning because Daddy just could not get it all together. This even though he prepared much of CJ's stuff last night, it was his stuff that held them up. Their lateness resulted in a meeting needing to be pushed back for Daddy. That was the only time they were late the rest of the day.

Daddy left work early to make sure he picked CJ up and beat all of the Garden State Parkway traffic. He was in East Orange by 4:00pm. Daddy was also the driving force to make sure everyone arrived to the graduation site on time. The graduation was nice. The school did what was right and focused everything on the students. CJ sat well for the most part. For a long while Daddy forgot she was there because she actually wanted to sit with her Pop! After the graduation the family went out to eat. This is where CJ showed her butt. She just would not stop talking. She whined, she screamed and just did anything that would annoy her Daddy. It was a long day for her and she held out as long as she could.

We finally arrived home and CJ has been sleep since we hit the Parkway South. We have to be up and at them tomorrow and I bet she will be a little cranky. We just pray that she learns to behave when she is tired. If she is tired, go to sleep. Pray for her folks, prayer changes things, people., and situations.

Mommy Is Sick (POST 600)

It is currently 10:10pm on a Sunday night. Daddy is typing his blog and CJ is still awake. The situation is this. Mommy some how got herself sick, when we arrived home she did not pass go nor did she collect $300 dollars. She went right to the bed and that is where she has been since then. SO that meant Daddy was left to deal with CJ for the entire night.

He has bathed her, check!

He prepared her lunch for tomorrow along with her diaper bag, check!

He also prepared a snack bag for graduation tomorrow, check!

Also a bag for him to have tomorrow evening, complete with an empty bottle, check.

He did not get himself ready but he has the alarm set so he can wake up with enough time to have both Daddy and CJ out of the house on time. The only thing Daddy cannot put a check by is, CJ is sleeping, uncheck. This girl is still going. Even with Daddy turning all the lights off she still is up. Now I know we are not in the traditional setting. Daddy does not want CJ to sleep in the bedroom for fear she might get sick. This week is another crucial week at work and he needs to be there daily. So after the blog is complete Daddy will lay with his Princess with the hope she goes to sleep. We do hope Mommy gets better. Daddy does the job that is needed to be done but Mommy puts a little more effort into it and always thinks of things Daddy does not. No matter how much he pays attention. So we pray for her health on tonight. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Home Alone

No I am not talking about the movie series. Daddy is home all by himself. No Mommy and no CJ. After Daddy took CJ to the park with him and was worn out by the Princess running all around the playground Mommy and CJ went to go babysit. CJ was amazing in the park though. Daddy observed as she navigated around. She developed a sequence of how she wanted to go up the stairs, then down the little slide, then up some more stairs and down the big slide. At first she needed to get a better understanding of how she was to get down from the top. Daddy saw her begin to reason with herself and then make her attempt. Of course Daddy was worried the entire time, would she get scared? Would she try to jump down a side? Would she slide to hard? All these things ran through Daddy's head but soon went away as she became more and more confident. CJ even walked down the stairs today. She took her time and made her way!

CJ also played well with others. It was nice to see her wait her turn, not push or hit any other children. it was a great day for CJ a tiring day for Daddy. Now Daddy is home alone, he truly misses his Princess. He got no kiss goodnight, no hug, no fussing, no calls for Daddy. What is a man to do. Well he prays. he prays that she is resting peacefully and that he will get to sleep soon to. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

NOTE TO CJ: Sometimes you will be away from home. Make sure that you call your Daddy to say goodnight! He misses you.

Daddy's Had Enough

Daddy has made a vow to help CJ begin to operate better by herself. Instead of playing with her toys CJ likes to eat paper, mess with electronic equipment, and she is fascinated with the kitchen. Today Daddy had enough of her messing things up and wondered where here toys were. He then remembered that they are in a container that gets hidden by his and Mommy's clothes. So he took all of the clothes off of the container and called CJ over. Daddy explained to her that anything in the container she could take out and do whatever she wanted to with it. Daddy would much rather have toys all over the place than the bits of paper and other stuff CJ finds to destruct.

Daddy will admit he played a part in CJ's having nothing to do sometimes but now those days are over and we all will be better from it. Daddy is really trying to work on his discipline style with CJ. Does not want to be softy but does not want to be too strict and harsh either. Daddy is trying to find balance but it is difficult. We definitely have to pray for Daddy as he continues on this journey.

Daddy and CJ did get to hang out and watch a little television together while Mommy did laundry. CJ refuses to sit with her Daddy for long periods of time. Folks' she is embarrassed by me and breaking away already. I guess I have to find us something that we can do together since cartoons are out of the question for CJ.

Lord willing tomorrow CJ and Daddy will have some fun in the park. You all pray for Daddy that he can keep up with CJ in open space. We know prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Get Out Of My Kitchen

People, my daughter is refusing to listen to anything said to her these days. When I ask her to stop, and I really ask her. She looks at me and then continues to do what she was doing. When I was trying to dress her for bed tonight, she kept diving on the bed and running from me. I ask her to stop she turns around and giggles.

Today Daddy had to get very stern with her. Daddy was preparing dinner and the instruments he was using could have harmed CJ. CJ insisted on coming in the kitchen. Daddy would chase her out but she would come back. She just wanted to be by her Daddy but she did not understand that Daddy just wanted to keep her safe. When Daddy had to raise his voice CJ looked astonished and upset. Of course Daddy did not feel good about it either. These things will happen but they both will grow stronger by it.

Tonight was Daddy and CJ Bath Night and it went according to plan. CJ enjoyed pointing out her body parts for Daddy to wash. CJ is getting really good with identifying her body parts too. Along with numbers and some of the alphabet. Daddy is happy because she is doing this without the full court press from Mommy and Daddy. CJ has developed a love for learning independently and I pray she continues to nurture it.

Daddy will be praying because he knows prayer changes things, people, and situations.

NOTE TO CJ: CJ I am sharing this passage with you. It has helped Daddy and Daddy prays you can benefit from them as well.

If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be be the best little shrub on the side of the hill. Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.
What Is Your Life's Blueprint?

Six months before he was assassinated, King spoke to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967.

Bad Hair Day

So when I dropped my child off today her hair was decent. When I picked her up her hair looked like she was the long lost descendent of Medusa. Hair was all over the place. Then Daddy had the nerve to need to make some runs before they went home.

The sitter informed us that her daughter (who does CJ's hair) will be leaving on Friday but wanted to make sure CJ's hair was done so they took it out today. We beat the heat and we are all in one piece. CJ still has to learn to listen but we are working on that daily. Keep praying for us as we continue to develop. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Simply CJ

Some things Daddy has come to learn that CJ will simply do.

CJ will eat anything that resembles paper.

CJ will close the refrigerator door when she sees it open.

CJ will go into the refrigerator and get her cup of milk if she feels her receiving it is taking too long.

CJ will go into the bathroom and shut the door, the bedroom and even the closet.

CJ will grab her coat and say, "I want to go." if she sees Mommy or Daddy hit the top stair.

CJ will remain asleep when Daddy dresses her in the morning but fuss with Mommy the entire time.

CJ will throw her dinner plate when she is finished with it.

CJ wil speak to any and everyone she encounters no matter how much it embarrasses her mom or dad.

CJ will drink from any cup she finds.

CJ will tell you what is on her mind if you ask her.

CJ is simply CJ folks. She is one of a kind and developing more and more of a personality daily. We can really begin to see that she is her Mommy and Daddy's child, interesting I know. Daddy loves her though. She is his Princess and anyone who has to, must deal with it. Mommy included. We continue to pray that CJ develops into a remarkable young lady; respecting of self, intelligent, beautiful, athletic, strong, independent, compassionate, witty, humorous, and so much more. Daddy will do his best to raise her up right and show her what a MAN is and how one acts and treats women. He will also learn to let go and let her live trusting in the job he has done! I will need prayer but I will get there. We all know Prayer changes things, people, and situations!

NOTE TO CJ: One thing Daddy wants you to do in life is to fully trust and respect yourself.

In And Out Of Trouble

So CJ for the past few months has been living to create trouble for herself. She will go where she does not suppose to go. She will touch what she knows she should not touch. Now recently, she has been getting bolder about hearing someone say stop but continuing to do as she pleases. So needless to say CJ has a lot of lectures from dear old dad. What Daddy can not seem to understand is that after i discipline her for doing wrong then she wants to come make nice with him.

She will come to Daddy and smile with all her cheeks then say, "Hi Daddy! I'm sorry Daddy!" then hug me. So now what am i suppose to do, continue to be mad? I think not, She understand when Daddy is not playing. He could be a little more stern but he never wants CJ to be scared of him. Daddy will be respected though and CJ is gaining that understanding.

Some people may say Daddy is soft but Daddy knows what he is doing. No need having a young girl afraid to approach her Dad. If that is the case she will go find some other man to fill his place. So CJ plays the line. She is in and out of trouble quickly sometimes. Something we both will need to work on.

So you all pray for us as we continue to develop the foundation of our father/daughter relationship based on love and respect.

A Good Day

Summing it up briefly, today was a good day. We worshipped,we dined, we relaxed, amd now we are off to sleep. CJ already beat Daddy to it. Please pray for us as the clouds do rise upon our lives. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Take A Nap

So today was an impromptu day all around. What Daddy believed would simply be a day he could sleep in and have one conference call meeting today turned to something a bit different. Even though we made an appointment we were still back and forth on whether or not we would take CJ to the doctor. However when CJ woke up literally with her eyes glued shut with mucus we knew we would need to go. That appointment was at 9:15am this morning. So while we were out Daddy figured we should go ahead and start our day. CJ and Daddy dropped Mommy off at her mother's and then continued up north.

When we arrived up north of course CJ started to cry when we arrived to the yellow house. Why she still does this is a bit annoying but she gets over it. When we arrived to East Orange today we were met with a picture Daddy never thought he would see in the hood. There was a goose perched in someone's yard. Daddy was so surprised that he took a picture of it. That goose hung on the block all day long. CJ was too busy crying to really understand what was going on. From there Daddy made a senseless trip to the bank. For some reason it was closed and of course Daddy had limited funds and the gas light came on, lol. Daddy handled the problem of course and then it was back to the house.

Daddy had his meeting and then Daddy and CJ enjoyed lunch. CJ was at her best today. She delighted in throwing a plastic vase of Christmas balls all over the place. She then wanted to play with the computer and press every button on the the printer. Everyone would tell her to stop but she would get tickled by trying to sneak and touch it when she thought no one was looking. She continued by sticking her hand in the cake batter her great-grandmother was baking. Then when the cake was done and cooling we noticed two finger holes in the cake. Low and behold the girls had gotten into the cake.

The problem of the day was that though tired, CJ would not take a nap. Daddy held her and she would not go to sleep. CJ would get her blanket and lay it out but then snatch it up and keep running through the house. Even Breezie trying to be nice could not get CJ to lay down. She did manage to keep her in the room watching television so I guess that was an accomplishment. When we left from up north CJ went to sleep as soon as we pulled off. Daddy figured that. Daddy and CJ had a great time today even though it was not planned but those are the best times anyway. Times when things just happen. Hopefully CJ is back to 100% soon. You all keep praying. Prayer changes things, people, and situations!

Another Doctor

When CJ woke up this morning her eye was full of cold. Mommy called the doctor but he is out. She got a reccomendation from a coworker so we will try that tomorrow. Pray for us, prayer changes things, people, and situations.

TBD

TBD

In The Middle Of The Night

Today's action occurred early this morning at about three something. CJ woke up restless and could not go to sleep. When Daddy went to pick her up and comfort her she was pretty hot. Mommy attempted to take her temperature rectally but CJ was not having it. Daddy recommended trying the under arm but she did not allow that to happen either. She kicked and screamed as we tried to give her some medicine, eventually we administered what she needed.

Daddy kept her in the bed with him for the rest of the night and she balled up under him and finally went to sleep. Needless to say this morning was rough for Daddy and CJ. We need to be out the house by 6:30am and it was after 7:00am when we left today. Thankfully CJ did not get sick and MOmmy is getting better. Daddy missed a moment tonight, CJ reading looking like her Mommy. She tried to get it on camera but things did not work out. As long as she was imitating reading, Daddy is satisfied for the time being. Keep praying for us, we have a few problems right now and we know prayer changes things, people, and situations.