A Lot Of Work To Do

This entry today will be more of a reflection today. I have to admit, I put a lot into work. I not only give my hours but I give my heart and soul. I have chosen to make education an area that I would dedicate my life towards. The first lesson I always teach is that education is not retaining and regurgitating information. Part of my philosophy is that education is planted and then nurtured to help it grow. If someone is truly educated they should never forget the knowledge not information they gained.

All in the name of education I made the decision to move to an area where the education, public I might add is what I feel up to par. I wanted to provide C.J., long before she was thought about or born the best garden possible to grow and flourish in. With her daddy and mommy doing their watering, fertilizing and pruning and the teachers and community doing their part I believe that C.J. will have the optimum environment for educational growth. Never will it be OK for C.J. to just cram information in her head for tests and grades. I want her to acquire knowledge that she can draw from for the rest of her life.

This all stems from what I saw at work the past two days. I saw students who are not challenged, not allowed to explore different academic subjects, schools that paid more for security cameras than their course offerings. I met with students who thought it was OK, to not do well and then expect for someone not to look at their historical grades. I saw a kid who were content with mediocracy and school districts that fostered that behavior.

As a educator I want more for these children. I will continue to fight that they be challenged and given the opportunity to explore the world beyond their home cities. I will continue to advocate on their behalf that they deserve educators who are willing to take them to places beyond their wildest imaginations. I will continue to say to the politicians that more money is needed in areas of low income and poverty. I desire for all children to learn how to learn and to not be swamped with the badgering of pass the test because that is what measures what you know. Education is not nor has it ever been quantitative. When we went there we went wrong. If we valued knowledge like we should then our children would value education as they should.

So I have a lot more children than just C.J. I will continue to pray that God allows me to have her in a healthy garden where the land is tilled and turned to keep it fresh. I will also pray that the concrete jungles that have been called playgrounds be dug up to unearth the healthy soil beneath that is home to so much knowledge waiting to be explored.

Pray with me people because we all know that prayer changes things.

C.J. Daddy wants you to know that he will do all he can to help you reach your goals and aspirations. Do me this one favor always value what you know and never settle for just enough. If you challenge yourself, ask questions and read like your mommy:), you will develop a passion for learning and that passion will turn into a burning desire that will keep you going and on top for a long time. Love you baby! Your daddy.

Aw, She is Cute

OK, OK, OK, OK,OK! I have heard it enough and now I am going to question it. How many people see a baby and then tell the parents that their baby is cute and really do not mean it? Now my mother always told me if I did not have anything nice to say then not to say anything at all. So when I see a baby and I know full well they are ugly I do not open my mouth.

Now I am not going to sit here and say that my princess is not cute. What I am going to say is that some folk just have those words fixed in their mouths and really have no care in the world about how C.J. looks. To those people I say, just learn to be quiet sometimes. In the doctor's office, in the mall, on Facebook everyone says, "Aw, she is so cute!" How about another word to describe her? Try that for a change.

The next thing I want to address is, why do people feel the need to share all of their baby experiences with us? How about C.J. is an individual and her baby experience does not need to reflect that of yours? Who says yours was right? What is your resume? How many kids do you have? The ones that get me the most are those who do not have a child in the world but have all the knowledge about them. How?

I am not saying that I will not listen but you have to have some war scars before I would even consider taking your theories and practices under consideration. Hint, just let me ask you when I feel like asking your thoughts before you volunteer. If I listened to everything I heard, oh my God, C.J. would have 3 eyes, no hair and would never talk.

So now I have given you my thoughts, if you can not use another word for cute do not say anything. If you really do not mean it, do not say anything. C.J.'s daddy knows she is cute and will tell her that all the time so save your rehearsed phrase for someone who needs it.

Now please take this in the fun that it was meant, readers. This all stems from a visit to the doctor's office where the receptionist said C.J. was cute and the way we had her wrapped up could not even tell that there was a baby with us. LOL! So as I go, remember to always pray because prayer changes things!

4 Months

C.J. is four months old today. The doctors visit was great, her development is great, God is Great who can ask for anything more. I will say that C.J.'s conduct is funny. She does not like being on the examination table. Every time she is laid down she begins to cry and cry loudly. Now one might say she does not like the doctor. That is false because she is all smiles and chatty while we discuss her progress. Others may say that she is phony. You may have a point because it does seem like she puts it on when she wants too. Now daddy say's she simply hates to lye on her back. Nothing more nothing less.

Doctor's visit are fun because the pediatrician we work with is dynamic. he even let us know today that pediatrics is the lowest money maker or doctors. (OK, that was off topic but worth sharing) I guess C.J. will begin to like the visits more when they don not include needles.

All is well with C.J. though. She has a big head as measured by the doctor today. The head needs to be big to protect all that brain she has up there. Four months, my how time flies. It seems like only yesterday we started out on this father/daughter journey. As we continue on our journey to sleep, you all remember one thing. Always remember to pray because prayer changes things.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!

Sometimes when I sit down to reflect on the day many things come to mind. The overwhelming question is always the same, "What is C.J. thinking?" She has been with us for four months. She has been held, kissed and hugged. She always has food in her bottle, clothes on her back, a roof over her head and transportation back and forth to the babysitter. Her needs are met but what does she really think about how things are going?

Does she like waking up at six o'clock in the morning?
Does she like her babysitter?
Does she appreciate all the hugs and kisses?
Does she really want to cuss us out when we take to long preparing her bottle?
When she is with daddy does she really enjoy watching football?
Does she think her shoes are cute.
How does she like the outfits that are chosen for her to wear?
Is her milk prepared to taste?
Is Sid the Science Kid enjoyable for her?
Does she really like to sing with her daddy?
If C.J. could answer these questions things would be interesting.

C.J. can be identified as a happy baby, she is all smiles most of the time. The only reason she cries is when she is hungry. When she hears my voice she gets excited. Today during dinner my dad was holding her and every time I would talk she would start to jump (as best she could) and screech in excitement. That sent chills down my spine because as you know I want nothing more than for my daughter and I to have a great relationship. I just want to make sure that what seems to be joy really is what she feels. Everything i do I do to ensure that she has a reason to smile. I want C.J. to know that even when she is having a bad day she can smile. My baby seems to enjoy life and living with her daddy and mommy. Her smiles and giggles make my day great from the beginning until the end. I am full of joy whenever I am with my little Princess and pray that my lil Princess is full of joy every time she is with her daddy.

C.J. this is an aside, just so you know today the Giants beat the Cowboys again. This makes them 0-2 this year. the Giants are daddy's team and hope that you will like them too!

OK my friends, as I go to bed a little early today, you all remember to pray because prayer as far as I know still is changing things!

Let It Snow!

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you love me so
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

December 5, 2009 will go down in history as C.J.'s first snow. Now you have to understand that daddy loves the snow. He believes that because he was born in the winter is is suppose to enjoy it. That makes no sens but that is his story and he is sticking to it. Daddy was so hyped over the snow that he decided it would be a fantastic idea to get a picture of Camille in the snow. Now understand quickly that I was not going to have my princess in the snow literally. I do have some sense. So when we came in from our day up north I asked mommy to hold up and let me get the camera to take a picture of her with C.J. outside. I took her out the carrier, wrapped of course and right on the stoop to a quick picture.

Now of course mommy was calling me all kinds of terrible things and bad names while I took the pic but oh well. these are the things we will have to look back on years from now when she is older. We can share these memories with her and together we can reminisce about C.J. as a little princess. I know for me I will always want to look back at my girl because I already do not want her to grow up. I know she has too and I am grappling with the reality daily.

So the snow is falling, football is on (today C.J> and I enjoyed Tim Tebow being beat badly by Alabama) Texas just came on so we are in business. It was a great day and now we are recharging to get our WORSHIP on tomorrow. So as I began I will end, Let it Snow. Let it snow, let it snow!!!

Also remember to pray because prayer changes things!

Night #2 - C.J . and Her Daddy

So two nights in a row it went down. C.J and her daddy got to spend the evening together. Mommy had to pay a visit to the hair people so we knew we were in for a long night. Now different from yesterday, today begins the weekend. So no laundry list was given to us, no rules and no expectations.

So today when we came in C.J. slept and daddy actually laid down on the couch. I was a little tired today so I needed the time out. Mommy did not call us too much either. We both know that she is always concerned when the Dynamic Duo is away from her watchful eye.

Tonight was a chill night, C.J. chatted and I listened. Daddy talked to her and she smiled and giggled. We both got a little tired so we called it a night early and laid down until mommy came home. I was chatting with a friend and realized that I was in the house, in bed and comfortable with that on a Friday night. My how things change when your life is altered. For the better of course. C.J. has taken the desire to be a busy body away I am now turning into a more serene person. I bet none of you would ever think of that word and Jamal in the same sentence. That is the joy of fatherhood, you always want to be with your baby, morning, noon or night.

Well we have an early rise in the morning so I am going to sign off for now. As i o in parting, always remember to pray becasue prayer change things.

C.J. 's Fault

Alright, have you ever heard the phrase, "That is my story and I am sticking with it"? Well that is what I told mommy today when she came in to find her daughter awake. Today was Back To School Night for Shatema, so you guessed it, Daddy and C.J. spent the evening together. Now you know their was a list of things to be completed.

Make sure you empty her bag from the sitter.
Make sure you wash her bottles and fill her milk containers for tomorrow.
Be sure to give her a bath, read to her, pray with her and have her in bed after her bath.
Also give her some water and tummy time as well.

Needless top say some of the list was omitted. Not on purpose it just did not fall into the scheme of things. I bathed her, greased her up, fed her and prayed with her. She got a lil tummy time too. I fell short when it came to having her in bed. Who needs a bedtime anyway, C.J. wanted to talk so I let her stay up.

I told her that we would get in trouble and when mommy came in and saw she was up. The scolding began. I new it would happen so I prepared my story. I blamed the kid, lol. I will make sure she is compensated for taking the blame but I was not going to take it this time. So when mommy asked I said, "It is her fault." Now you know mommy did not believe me but as I said in the beginning, "That is my story and I am sticking with it."

C.J. is sound asleep now. She stayed awake a little longer than usual but I told mommy she stayed up just to see her and mommy smiled. I also told her to listen to the voice mail that C.J. left her and that put the icing on the cake. So i think we are not in too much trouble now. Well my friends until next time, always remember to pray because prayer changes things.