Back to the Routine

After a real adventurous night I finally made it home. Tomorrow we will be back to our normal routine. Daddy is up at 4:45am and we have to be out the door by 6:30am. We do it with our eyes barely open and trusting in God.

We learned a lot about ourselves as we had some time off together. We learned that C.J. will sit quiet as long as music is playing that she likes. We learned that Daddy has to change more diapers so that mommy is not the only person C.J. gets mad at for placing her on her back. We learned that C.J. knows when she is in a different place and surrounded by different voices. She responds differently. We also learned that daddy and C.J. never really get tired of each other.

So tomorrow it is back to the babysitter, back to work and a routine visit to the pediatrician for some more shots. Hopefully she will take them like a champ like she has done all the other shots she has been administered. I am going to miss spending the day with C.J. and i am seriously considering making my day off that is coming up a C.J. and Daddy day!

So pray for us as we get back into the swing of things. Daddy is back at 100%, C.J. is still growing and mommy is still the best ever! So as I sign off to make sure I am well rested for the morning you all always remember to pray because prayer changes things!

C.J. the Devil will throw things at you when you least expect it. Stay prayed up to be able to continue mooving while he is kicking and screaming!

3 Months Old

My, my, my, how times flies when you are having fun! A little earlier tonight I told C.J. that she was the best thing that ever happened in my life. She may not understand why I told her that now but the day will come when C.J. has a full understanding of her importance in my life.

It only seems like yesterday when we were in the doctors office and he told us that he wanted Shatema to go to the hospital later that day because he was going to induce her labor. All I remember from that point on was telling Shatema that I needed to go to the bank before anything went down because I needed to get a few more things for her arrival. We then went to the hospital where things moved along rather quickly. Then it happened C.J. came into the world and began to exercise her lungs. My life as I knew it would forever be different.

As I sit and watch her on a daily basis I can only smile. Nothing but joy fills my heart when I am in her presence. She has a hypnotic power over me that draws all my attention to her whenever she wants it. she is truly "Daddy's Princess" and if you would ask Shatema she would probably say she should be elevated to "Queen" status.

In these three very short months C.j has done so much. She lifts her head, she kicks her feet, she keeps that fist clinched for battle, she chats, she giggles, she is very observant, she pays very close attention to her surrounding area, sje likes to be read too and she loves music. Most of all C.J. can throw down on the milk! I love to come home and play with her on her activity mats, dance around with her and toss the ball to her and see her reaction.

These three months have been the start to a wonderful relationship between father and daughter. So many special moments have been lived and captured so I can share them with her when she gets older. The bond that we have thus far prayerfully will only get stronger. We have a long way to go but the outlook looks good. My baby is 3 months old today! It has been my pleasure being her daddy!

Its A Family Affair

If you don not have your family what do you have? C.J. has the pleasure of having two particularly large families. It is daddy's desire that she knows her true history. As a child we always did family tree activities. I knew my all my grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond because I would ask questions then sit at the feet of the elders and listen to stories about the old day on the farms of Georgia, Alabama, Virginia and North Carolina. These stories interested me because I learned a lot about my kin that normally you would not know.

So now I have C.J. and I would like for her to have knowledge of who she is and where she came from. She will be able to go far because she knows her history. My desire is to take her to the different places her ancestors use to live. I will explain to her why it is significant, why they left, where they migrated to and what it all means to her. Geographically C.J. might not have th fortune of learning black history in her classroom so daddy will have to make sure that he is on point with immersing her in her history.

I want her to know the sacrifices that her people made. i want he to know that all of her great-grandparents were strong, hardworking people from the south who leaned and depended on no on other than the good Lord above. I want her to know that her grandparents lived a modest life so that their children would be successful in life. I w3ant her to know that her parents made it to where they are today by being supported by their nuclear families just like her mommy and daddy will support her.

So today she spent the day with her great-grandma and after she carefully examined the different surroundings she began to chat a little bit so her grandma knew she was an alert baby. I feel that family is important and want to make sure even though she lives a little ways from most of her folks that she will always have opportunities to bond with them. also to be able to ask questions of her elders and sit at their feet to hear stories about daddy and mommy when they were kids and how life was when they grew up. So as I leave today, always promote family folks. When the smoke clears it is your family that will be there cheering you on and supporting you in all you do. Until next time, you all remember to pray because prayer always changes things.

Simply Wonderful

When you arm begins to get heavy because nestled within it is your daughter who has become comfortable, happiness is the feeling that you have. Earlier tonight Mommy and Daddy both realized that this week C.J. was spoiled beyond belief. We are both home...Mommy's time off is because school is out and Daddy's is because he needed some time to look deep into himself. C.J wanted to be in one of our hands at all times. I know I should have been a little more stern with her but when Daddy and his girl are together, she usually gets the best of him.

I have been talking a lot lately about her being the number one priority in all I do, and I want to explain why. When I became a parent I only knew parenting as what I was raised under. That is that you do whatever is necessary for your children to have what they need and to feel loved. When two parents can keep six children fairly happy I would say they were pretty good at it. So now that I have one child I want to make sure that she is always happy. If it means skipping a meeting, so be it. If it means working long hours, so be it. If it means lugging her with me to make sure I stay on schedule to meet her needs then so be it. If you could see her face when she is with me, it would make you melt as well. She has this look of "This is my daddy of whom I am well pleased". I am pleased because he dances with me, he kisses me, he provides for me, he laughs with me, he comforts me, he listens to me and he talks to me. This is the look she gives me, and I pray that it transforms into those thoughts someday.

These past few days have shown me what a relationship between Daddy and daughter should be. It is my job to make sure this is a reality, and not just what I believe should happen. As the songwriter said, "Practice what you preach." I never want to be viewed as someone, especially by my own Princess C.J., as one who just "talks the talk".

As I prepare to unveil a revived me, a better me for myself and C.J., and a more focused me for the world, you all continue to pray because prayer changes things.

C.J., in life you will sometimes feel like you have no energy. Be strong enough to say I need to take some time for myself to revive yourself so you can operate at 100%. Take it from your Daddy, it is you that will be your weakest link and your biggest enemy toward your own progress if you allow yourself to be consumed in yourself. Every so often, do a personal spring cleaning! Love you much!

What A Day!

The day finally came where I was with C.J. from sun up to sun down. As I laid in the bed watching the news she went through her normal morning ritual of stretching and sound making. The big difference was that today I was able to pick her up and be the first person she laid eyes on.

The joy of the day was that whatever we wanted to do we could. The result was relaxation. It was my pleasure to lay around with my my little lady. She is so thrilled when her daddy is around. I even put her favorite song on today just to see if she really likes it. Just so you know, when the beat to I Got A Feeling by Black Eyed Peas knocks, C.J. is busting a move. Now you may ask what does that song teach her? It does present some Jewish culture to her when they yell out, "Mazeltov", which means congratulations! So in keeping with my quest to embed education in most of what we do together, the song works.

Today was a great day simply because I was there for my girl. I had begun to feel a little down with not being around too much but today began a renewed feeling of joy just being in C.J.'s presence. This really means a lot to me because I watch first hand how young women deal in life when their father is not present. Many will not admit it, but they have issues with men. Now most will use the defense that they are strong, independent and goal oriented women. However I argue that they are lost because they do not know how to accept, grow with and even look for a well rounded supportive man in their lives. They seem to settle for junk because they have no role model or standard to gauge from. My quest is to be the man, the man that C.J. can have as the standard and that is why I want to be with her as much as I can. I will let her grow into her own, but she will always have her daddy when she needs him.

So today was a great day for me. Introspection still going on and C.J. and I spending quality time together. What more could a man ask for! You all remember to pray because prayer changes things.

C.J., Daddy is about to go pray for some people that have asked him to lift them up in prayer. Always remember to start and end your day with prayer. Praying for others is a great thing to do. It brings you great joy and makes a difference in the lives of others.

Days Off

Welp, the day is here. The day where I can chill with C.J. all day and do absolutely nothing. So the plan for the next three days is on. Now I will be fully engaged in my introspection but when that period is over it will be C.J. and Daddy.

I am excites because I have prayed for this day for a long time. So I am looking forward to hanging out to my little girl. I will read with her, take a walk with her. Spoil her a little bit.

I have to say that I am a little worried about the next four years today. New Jersey has a new governor and he directly effects my way of life. So today I pledge to C.J. that daddy will do all he can to ensure your well-being, your safety and your health. Real short today but its with a purpose.