Daddy Needs A Haircut

If you know Jamal T. Johnson you know that he is debonaire. He is very concerned about his appearance and will go out of his way to make sure his attire is top notch. With that said, everyone has mentioned to me that time would be scarce with a child. I would have to disagree for the most part. With all that I involve myself in, having C.J. has not put a dead halt to that.

I have found time for my nine to five, found time for my business development, God automatically makes his time available, even have had time to sit and chill with Shatema. I have had time for recreation and still the time is there for Mr. Johnson to be supportive of his many kids. Now all of this does come at a cost...I do not know what sleep is, and I refuse to depend on coffee to keep me going. Green tea has become my hot beverage of choice.

With all of this going on, most of my time is committed to C.J.'s development. As a father I want to make sure I am there for her mentally, socially, physically, emotionally, playfully, educationally and prayerfully, and anything else you can come up with. I believe that she will be a stronger WOMAN because of it. Now back to C.J. and Daddy's hair.

Now, I went bald because George Bush was President of the United States. I went out, bought a balding clipper and will usually bald my own head. Since C.J. was born I have not been able to do so because I do not want hair to get all over the place. I usually put some plastic down to be neat, but hair scatters and I want everything she uses to be clean. With that said I am considering going back to my Afro days as it is less maintenance than a bald head. Hold up I'm gonna do a poll on Facebook real quick. With my Afro I don't have to worry about getting hair all over the place when cutting it myself. I would have to get back to going to the barber once a week to keep it Steve Harvey tight but that is what I used to do anyway. I want to keep C.J. clean and sanitary so I might have to go that route.

So get this...C.J. is really beginning to use all of her limbs now. Her long legs are moving like she is Allyson Felix, Daddy's favorite runner. She is moving a lot now so we have to watch her closely so she does not fall. Now a fall will occur sooner or later. How we respond will be interesting. She had another good day at the sitter. Shatema told me that she talked to her on the phone. I really like the fact that the sitter interacts with her too. She is becoming more and more fascinating as the days go by. When she is up and running, watch out world. Daddy and C.J. are going to be on the move.

I am going to go now, so as always, remember to pray because prayer changes things!

All In A Day's Work

Today was a good day! Up at 4:45am, check. Car started and moving by 6:30am, check. Drop C.J. and Shatema off at the babysitter, check. Get to work on time, check. Have a productive day at the office, check. Pick up C.J. and Shatema by 4:30, check. So as you can see, the first day back for Shatema and our new routine went well. If I had to grade our performance I'd give a B+ for the attempt. When we get in stride we will be fluid and the A+'s will come.

So this evening I had the chance to chill with C.J. due to a minor mishap with a certain person's ring finger who shall remain nameless. She had to go away for a couple of hours so that left C.J. and I to fend for ourselves and we did well. We came home, she slept as I caught up on some work that needed to be completed. She woke up. I prepared a bottle, fed her and then started to prepare her bath (yes with one hand because she was in the other). I am still working on this not spoiling her stuff, I give myself a F-. So during the bath C.J. wanted to be difficult. This being only my second time bathing her she is still a little hard to manage with her being so tiny and my hands being so large. And when I'm trying to be extra careful she wants to twist and turn, of course. If it weren't for her being in water I'd pop her little butt and tell her to be still...a little pop won't hurt her. We got through it, though, and I got her dressed, and then it was back to sitting down C.J. and Daddy! Now when Mommy got home to evaluate the situation I realized there were a few things I forgot to do. I have to get a little better and study what Mommy does more intently.

I am learning that you have to get a lot done in a day as a parent. I am becoming part of the Octopus Club. I used to joke around about mothers being able to do many things at once but now I am in the same company. It is a great club to be in though and for C.J. I will be an octopus. We are here now watching this Vikings vs. Packers game. We even have Mommy peeking too. We may win her over one day. Until that day folks remember to pray because prayer changes things.

P.S. C.J., you had a great day at the sitter. The entire family calls you by your name C.J. They like you a lot and you seem to be pleased with them after day one. Continue to be well behaved whenever you are away from Daddy and Mommy. Good behavior will take you a long way. Oh yeah, Mommy read the weather report to you today as well! When you read this you will know why I stated that and the weather some other times as well. Love you baby!

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!!!