Where Is C.J.?

Today is Sunday. The first Sunday in October to be exact. Guess who had to work? You guessed right, me. So I left the house this morning like it was a regular work day and headed down to TCNJ. 8:45am to 3:30pm, all day long in a building that was extremely hot. My voice was gone from the game yesterday and I had to present. This was going to be an interesting day I thought. In the end it wasn't too long. Now, if you have kept up with the diary, you know that Shatema is headed to work tomorrow and C.J. will begin going to the babysitter. On my way out this morning Shatema reminded me not to forget to purchase a frame for her picture of C.J... easier said than done. I went to one store and they had nothing. I wanted to call it quits so I could get my food and get in for the end of the late games. However I know how it feels to stare at C.J. during the day,and I want Shatema to have the same opportunity. So I go to another store they were empty. Finally, after two failed attempts, I found a great frame for Shatema and was able to head home. Only today the arrival would be different.

Today was the first day that when I cracked the door, began to ascend the stairs, and I heard nothing. It was quiet, too quiet. I have to admit the sound was haunting because I have become accustomed to hearing her up or even asleep...C.J. does snore, lol! OK people, there was no need to panic. I knew Shatema had planned to be gone when I got home. That does not mean I have to like it. We had a routine. I would come home, run up the steps, take off my jacket, wash my hands, kiss Shatema and then grab my baby. I was empty handed today and I felt the difference. So now I had to eat and watch football alone. I did get a text to tell me that over at Grandma's my baby was watching football, as she should have been, but she should have been with Daddy.

Don't go thinking I do not want her visiting, but some of you may know when you have that bond with your kid, you will do everything in your power to stop anything from breaking it. C.J. and I bond over Sunday night football and it had become comfortable for dear old Dad. So know I have to wait anxiously until my darling gets home but tonight is different because we are preparing for the first family exodus tomorrow and Shatema and I will be preparing for the morning. I have already set out my clothes for tomorrow, washed the bottles, straightened up the living room, and even mopped the floor. You can tell I had a lot of nervous energy to use and a lot of idol time this evening. However, when Shatema gets home, we have to bath C.J, read to her, pray and get her down and fix lunch for the both of us...a lot to be done, I know. But we are a team and hopefully we will be in bed with enough time to enjoy a good night of rest.

Tomorrow morning will be rough. Will we get out on time? How will Daddy respond to the new situation? Will Daddy make it to work on time? Will he be back in time to pick his girls up? All these questions are running through my head but you know what it is pretty exciting. I honestly have been waiting for this moment for a while now and it has finally arrived. I am sure with God leading us all things will fall right into place. That is exactly the reason the Johnsons of Old Bridge pray daily. We want nothing but for God's will to be manifested in our lives.

As for today that is all folks. As always, remember to pray because prayer changes things. By the way C.J. is home now too!

When Can C.J. Play?

I am a sports fanatic. If you know me you already know that. Pop Warner, High School, College or the Pros, if there is a game I am down. This is the Daddy who wants to buy his girl an outfit that clearly is for a boy because it has footballs on it. I am currently looking for a baby jersey for her too. So you are asking, "Why all this?" Well, I am gearing up for the day that C.J. and I get to hang at games together. I am envious when I see the dad and his kid walking to the concession stand. I want that to be C.J begging me for candy and popcorn. Today I was at a game and a fan and his son looked so cute together.

I am serious about this too. Last night I took pictures of C.J. with her basketball and she was posing. Cross-over will be wicked! Some good times are in store for us and Daddy can not wait until C.J is ready to play. You might think I am playing but I am so serious. I was online and found this today and I will be off to buy it for her as soon as possible...http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2863487. I will begin working on hand eye coordination and her gross motor skills so do not think I am trying to breed a stallion either. This is all in the name of being well rounded.

Many people wonder when she will be out and about. Trust she will be playing with Daddy before. So to answer all of your questions, soon. Soon she will be able to play. Soon she will be at football games. Soon she will go for runs in the park and soon folks will see her.

It was a great day C.J.! Daddy went to watch East Orange beat Montclair in football. Next year you will be there too. Then I made it home to catch the end of the Notre Dame game with you and they were victorious too. Currently, Miami is playing Oklahoma and it is a ball game baby. You are fading though. So another Saturday is fading away as is C.J. but it was great! As always, remember to pray because prayer changes things!

Little Feet

After a long week, guess what I got to do? I got to chill out with C.J. this evening while Mommy went to beautify herself. Monday will be a milestone in the Johnson's of Old Bridge residence. Mommy goes back to work and C.J. will be with the sitter for the first time. Many emotions are mounting but soon we will all be in a state of normalcy.

So anyway today since Mommy was away I figured C.J. and I would go for a ride to keep her asleep. Now my intention was to ride around, and then when she was asleep, run in the mall and get her some Jordan's. To my dismay my baby's feet are not big enough yet. She has a few more weeks to go hopefully. So upset, I had to find my baby something, so we searched and searched until I found her the cutest little dress.

Now I am feeling some type of way because everything that is made for little girls is PINK! Now I am a colors person. I will wear pink and C.J. can wear pink too, as long as it is not that girly pink, YUCK! So I have laid down a decree that if you purchase something for C.J. please do not get anything pink. Daddy gets her purple, green, blue, brown and black everything. I just want her to be versatile in color. My father would say I'm grooming her to be a tomboy, but I'm not. I only have bought her dresses. Yes, she does have a basketball and will get a football and softball soon. I will make sure she is well rounded. The only thing now is the sneakers. Her feet have to grow for me. She has this nice sweatsuit I want her to wear but she needs some hot kicks to go with it.

So C.J. has slept the entire evening and Daddy is so appreciative. We now just have to see what the night will bring. She made a trip to the mall today. Some time in the years to come, I bet much of my hard earned money will go, more than I want it too. I guess I have to say I started it. Well, she is my Princess so she can get that (for now)! If her grades slip she will have to shop at the Home Shopping Network or QVC.

Well I am off now to chill out with my little foot Princess. As always remember to pray because prayer changes things!

Never Too Late

Is it Friday yet? At this very moment I am exhausted. My body is worn down as a result of a week so busy it is a blur. Between work and church, I have not been home much. When I do come home I am so tired I literally fall out, only to start the long tedious journey again the next day. Praise God for life and the will to go on, though.

As for C.J. and me, the bulk of our communication was by way of telephone. I would call home to see how my leading ladies were doing and I would hear my baby through the phone being chatty. Just to hear the joy in her sounds was enough to help me get through the day so I could at least look upon her as she slept.

Today was no exception. I left home early this morning to return at about 9:30pm. I rushed up the stairs to wash my hands as usual and went in to greet my ladies. Shatema was up but C.J. was sleeping on this Boppy pillow thing. So I picked her up, kissed her and placed her in her crib. Well C.J. decided to wake up. Now I have to admit even though I am really tired, I'm glad she did. I just love to see her little eyes observing her surrounding and I just want her to see her Daddy's face everyday. So I picked her up and walked around with her a bit until it was time to try to get her back to sleep.

I realized that it is never too late for me to want to see this girl. She has quickly ascended the list to being a top priority for me. I guess it's God, then C.J, in that order. I still love my wife and mom but C.J. is that girl, man! So no matter what time I get in, there is a little part of me that is wishing to hear her making her sounds so I can go get a glimpse of her. Now in fairness to Mommy, a smaller part of me wishes that right after our eyes connect she drifts back off to sleep. So then Mommy and Daddy can be well rested.

So time is not an issue with C.J. and I. We just want to ensure that we get our connection time daily with each other. So I know these days it's up to me to make it happen. There will be a day when I have to remind C.J. that she needs to connect with Daddy daily. Those days I dread already, when my baby becomes a little woman. What is Daddy to do? Until next time people...always remember to pray because prayer changes things.

Missing In Action

It is 11:42 on Wednesday night. I am holding C.J. as she is awake from one her cat naps. Since I had to work and then attend a huge church function, Daddy was MIA today. I hate these days because when I get home C.J. is asleep and Mommy is resting too, so I dont have anyone to talk to.

One thing that was not missing was a poop filled diaper when I came in. So even though she was asleep, she left that for me to culminate her day. I drove as fast as I could to get home before the new day began. One to make sure I got my blog done. The other reason is to make sure we had prayer as a family. With my career and aspirations, the reality is that I may be away from C.J on some nights. Nevertheless wherever I am, we will pray as a family to begin and end each day. So now off I go to tend to the poop. As always, remember to pray because prayer changes things...by the way C.J., Daddy had a good time at church tonight. I can not wait until you can hear your Daddy proclaim the Word of God!!!

Mixed Emotions

As the reality for Mommy sets in that next week she is back at work, and I too am dealing with a little problem. When I look back to how it felt to walk in the house everyday and greet my two ladies I can honestly say that I liked the whole situation a lot. It is a situation that I was getting used to and comfortable with. Knowing full well that it all has to come to an end and that the realization would not be pretty. Unfortunately at this present time I do not make enough money to allow for Mommy and C.J. to stay home together for as long as we desire. Therefore Mommy has to build up the courage and strength to go back to work. No matter how I look at it C.J. will be impacted.

Now some of you are already thinking negatively about the situation because I said she would be impacted but I have considered a few ways that she will be impacted that will help her grow into a well rounded little girl. First, she will get to be around other children. Being with the babysitter hired she will interact with two older children that at today's meeting seemed to be happy and very well learned. My hope is that C.J. begins to develop up to where they are. Not skipping meaningful milestones in her life but learning how to interact with all different age groups early in life will help her socially when she gets older.

Secondly, she will develop a respect and appreciation for different cultures. C.J. and I have listened to music from all over. Now she might hear other genres of music because her babysitter is from someplace else. She may hear different words and she may see customs not related to her culture. With this exposure she will be inquisitive to learn about different people and places around the world. Hopefully her Daddy will be able to take her to see not only sites of America but we will fly over the Atlantic too.

And thirdly, C.J. will learn how to cope with being away form her Mommy and especially me, her Daddy, for long periods of time. This will help her when the time comes for her to go away to college and it will prepare Daddy for that day when he must accept the fact that someone else loves his baby and is reluctantly given his approval to take her hand in wedded bliss.

Babysitters are cool, hey I had one and I turned out fine, and I have full confidence that C.J. will too. After all, she is a Johnson by birth. Even though I do wish I made the 7 digit numbers that could unscramble these mixed feelings, I don't. For now we both have to go into work to continue living as we want to live. Don't get me wrong we are blessed and highly favored and that is what gives me the peace to not worry. And simply because I am one of His I know he is in control. I am happy that we have a situation where Mommy is near and Daddy is always, no mater where I am, a call away. Plus I saw the picture of the last supper and the bibles in the house so I know C.J. is being cared for by a woman who knows Jesus Christ.

Welp, I must go now, there is rest to be had, but before I go, remember to pray because prayer changes things.

Music To My Ears

I was once told that that the way a baby communicates is by crying. That was only half the truth. There are many sounds that a baby makes and I think C.J. is at the top of the chart having mastered them all. From the moment she wakes up until we put her down at night you will hear many things uttered from my little C.J.

Lets look at when she wakes up in the morning. You don't hear crying you hear stretching and yawning and the covers rustling. This is all before she opens her eyes. She has a 5 minute ritual which gives us time to prepare a bottle for her by the time she opens her eyes. Now I find this fascinating because she will stretch her arms out and show her wingspan like she was an eagle, and I might add, that it is huge.

Now I was told that there would be a cry for when she was wet, not C.J. When she is wet you hear her pamper rubbing together because she won't stop moving her little legs. I think that is how the poop spreads all over the place.

Now when she is hungry the sound of smacking is heard from a room away. When you hear the smacking you know that she is beyond hungry and you have already missed the previous signs to tell that she is hungry. Once you give her the bottle you hear the milk as it travels down her digestive tract very loudly.

Now Daddy's favorite sound is that of the burp. Now this is partly because I am disgusting and feel the need to challenge her when she burps after a feeding. C.J. seems like she finds the burp deep down in her soul and aids it by getting really silent, then letting out a burp that resonates for miles.

Now tonight there were some fun sounds. Some laughs that showed happiness. She let out a loud shriek and smiled. She seemed as if she wanted to talk to me, so I held her up to me and showed her I was listening.

There is one sound that I could do without. Or I have to train her on the potty quickly. It is the grunt. This sound means that in just minutes a smell will be produced and you might want to get your goggles, gloves and face mask. All of which I have because my Grandmother made me this apron to use for just such an occasion. When you hear that sound you better be prepared and not dressed in anything you like.

Now the most popular sound amongst parents is that of the cry. C.J. does cry, when she cries we know she is A. being a spoiled brat, (thanks to Dad) or something is wrong. As I told you she makes other sounds for everything else. Her cry is loud. I wish I had earmuffs to shield me from it. I have to tell you though nothing sounds better than the sigh of satisfaction when I have her in my arms after she has exercised her lungs. That sigh relays to me that she is content, satisfied and safe. It is that sigh that makes me feel happy and proud to be a Daddy, especially C.J.'s Daddy.

Well for now that is all. Time for me to go listen to sounds, maybe she will snore a little so we know she is asleep. Until later good people, remember to pray because prayer changes things.