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.

Words of Wisdom

Well tonight I have to be brief. Was a long day at the office and the bed is calling. I watched today as some students lumped themselves into a crowd. Which lead me to make this statement. You are born in to the world alone and you will die alone. Learn how to stand on YOUR own two feet.

I say this because I get tired of seeing people defined by who they surround themselves with. Especially young woman who think they have to be all up in some guys face. It kills me and my prayer is that C.J. will be raised to be a confident woman who is a leader and not a follower.

This one was anger and I will continue my post tomorrow. Until then you all remember to pray because prayer changes things.

Daddy's Girl (The first of many times I will use this title)

Well, well, well, today my baby reached, OK, leaned for her daddy with a huge grin on her face. Now too many that might mean much but to this daddy it means the progression towards the day she will utter the words daddy has begun. Just noticing that she recognizes and has a preference for me at times means that the time we do spend together is equally as fulfilling to her as it is her daddy.

Today C.J. was engaged in here daily tummy time. With mommy close by and she was doing very well. Holding the head up strong, starting to try and move and she began to roll. The only difference today was that she roll one time to fast and she bump her little head. Of course daddy quickly looked up from what he was doing to see if his princess was. I am happy to report not even a whimper came from her mouth. So daddy told mommy that was enough tummy time and proceeded to go get C.J. to hold her. It felt as if fell right into place once I placed her in my arms.

I am becoming more and more sensitive to situations that affect women and especially little girls. I have developed a low tolerance for all of the nonsense. On Oprah it talked about men buying sex slaves as young as thirteen years of age. The thought of any many having that little regard for a child is sickening. I am thankful for the little gem that God has entrusted me with. I will do everything in my power to make sure that she is develops into the precious stone that God intends for her to be.

At this very moment I have her in my arms because she was not ready to go to sleep yet. Mommy would be mad at me but she is sleep so she can not say anything right now. C.J. is daddy's girl and that is the way it is and forever will be!

C.J. I am sitting here with you tonight and want you to know that your daddy is your comfort zone. When your sad he is here. If your mad he is here. If your having trouble sleeping he is here. Never feel that you have to go through anything alone. I love you! As she now is drifting back off, just from daddy comforting her.

As I go to put her down, you all remember to pray because prayer always changes things!