SCRATCH

Ok, I will be brief today. CJ's nails are very long. Even though we cut them all the time they seem to grow very rapidly. CJ like to explore her Daddy's face with her hands. The only problem is that she scratches me all the time. She grabs my lips twists and turns them and scratches all the while. I want to retaliate but I can not. I want to scratch her back but her face is too cute to do that. So Daddy has to keep the cocoa butter handy to start the healing process quickly.

That is my only account for tonight. It was a slow one. Keep praying folks, prayer changes things, people, and situations!

And The Whining Begins!

Who knew this would happen? Who would think that I, Daddy, Pops, Pa Pa (in a french accent) yes me folks, would be uttering the following words about my Princess. Please stop the whining! When I do not see who I want to see, I think I will whine. When I am asked to stop playing with something I should not be playing with, I think I will whine. When I am tired and refuse to go to sleep, I think I will whine. If I feel I have been in this carrier too long, I think I will whine. Now I will admit these all seem to be reasons to get a little bothered. Daddy just wishes she will develop her words and let them out sooner than later. If she could tell me her issues, I would be a lot more satisfied.

As the days continue to pass C.J. is getting quicker. One moment she is settled, and the next she is out and about. Even tonight, right now it is about 9:30pm and she is still up and about. This is because she and Mommy took naps when they arrived home. I am doing my best to ignore her, Mommy asked me too. In reality I want to go pick her up and hold her and lay with her until she falls asleep. The only bad thing is that she still lets out a few periodic whines, which she is becoming a master at.

Tonight that is all I have for you folks. She whines, she smiles, she whines, she smiles and she is content. Not Daddy :(, so pray for us, especially Daddy. He knows that prayer changes things, people, and situations,

She's Still At It

This girl is a mess. She is still at it, doing anything she can to be all up on her Daddy. For the past few days, C.J. has done her part to get on her Daddy's nerves. Once we got in today she was still at it, trying to turn the computer off. She is still going where I tell her not to. She is still feisty when she wants her way. Folks, today, I had to hurt my Princess' feelings again. She even tucked her head in and cried. I am not proud of that but I have to get stern with her to lay the foundation for discipline.

C.J. and I are a great pair when we are clicking on all cylinders, and lately we have needed a tune up. I guess our two strong personalities are beginning to clash a little bit. We will have to have a sit down to discuss how things are going to operate in this household. This little personality of hers is really taking shape. The more and more I watch her, the more and more I see a mixture of all her Daddy and Mommy's relentless, determined, independent, and risk taking traits. I am waiting for a little of her Mommy's introverted behaviors to sink in. From what I see thus far, I think I might have inserted a few more genes than needed, lol!

So as our relationship continues to develop and C.J.'s personality continues to take shape, do keep praying for us. Simply because, as I uttered to her today, this house is not large enough for the both of us to share. So pray because we know that prayer will fix it because prayer changes things, people, and situations.

What A Good Girl

Usually on Sunday's we wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, then we head out for Sunday School or for Worship. Daddy parks the truck and then he goes in one direction and CJ and Mommy go in another. We will not usually meet up again until the sermon is complete and Daddy is dressed back into what he wore to church. So today was a different kind of day for us both. Daddy needed a Sunday off from his home church so the Johnson's of Old Bridge visited another church today. What was odd was that Daddy sat with Mommy and CJ today.

On any other Sunday I am looking out of the pulpit to see what CJ is doing. Most of the time I do not have to look much because I would hear her without a problem. It was cool to sit with them both today. To hear the word as a family, read the scripture as a family and sing the songs as a family. I will admit the feeling was fulfilling. I received (from God) a new ritual to add to our mornings and that is to read scripture before we head out as well. I know we are sometimes pressed but I think it will be a great way to start the day along with our morning prayer. CJ behaved well too. We were in a different church, different people, different sound, and different movements. CJ took it all in stride and was well behaved. She did not make too much noise either. I was really proud of her. Sometimes as a preacher I worry about her conduct in church. I know she is young but their have been a few times when I was on edge a little bit worrying about how she would act. I have become less worried over the last nine months though.

So you know all good days must come to an end. On the ride home CJ decided to cry for a half hour straight. I did all I could to block the noise out. She really has to learn sooner than later that she will have to ride in that back seat alone sometimes. Daddy kept driving and was about ten minutes away from home before Mommy asked him to stop so she could get in the backseat with her. Daddy did not like it but he went along with it.

So now my ladies are sleep and I am stroking away at the keys keeping up with my journal entries. It is now int he still of the night where i am able to sit and think about how blessed I am to have both CJ and Mommy in my life. I thank God for sending the blessing of Shatema my way and through her CJ being created. I am am so grateful that I was the recipient of these oh so precious gifts of love. So as I pray, pray with me. We know that prayer changes things, people, and situations!

Nautical Dreams

Over the past ten years Daddy has had an affection for sailing. He does not own a boat, has never been sailing, but he has been on a cruise. He is fascinated by the attire of those who frequent the waters. He even has invested in deck shoes and polo shirts to be prepared for the day he sets sail.

Well today C.J. was ready for her Daddy to have his yacht. She wore a sailor girl outfit complete with a tam. She looked so cute in her blue capris, trimmed with white and her bows were placed correctly. If she could have, she would have said "Come on Daddy, let's go out for a few hours and relax on the waves."

Today did not start off well for C.J. and Daddy. She did not want to listen and I had to get a little stern with her. At the church function today she spilled an entire cup of juice on the floor that I was drinking. I looked at her and just shook my head. By the end of the Baby Dedication we attended today, she was all over me. She did not want to be with anyone but her Daddy. I guess it was to make up for earlier, and you all know I accepted her apology.

So as we all get ready to get to bed you all please keep us in prayer. We do not want another morning like today. I know and you know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

A Scene

Today when we went to pick C.J. up from the sitter, things did not go as normal. Yes, she stared me down. Yes, everyone started to say goodbye. Yes, she was smiling and laughing. Yes, she did not want to be in the car seat. What was different was that one of the other kid's mothers was there to pick him up and the sitter's family was having company. Mommy needed to use the latrine so I was left with C.J. Suddenly C.J. started to whine and cry in hysteria. I looked at her and said, "Really, C.J.?" One of the guests said she may be hot, but I knew it was just that my Princess wanted attention. Since Daddy never really wants to hear her crying like that (and the sitter said she never heard her like that), I decided to pick her up and instantly she stopped and smiled.

Now folks I do not like scenes. If she were a little older, when she got out to that truck, she would have received an earful. The scene at the sitter was only the beginning of the madness. When we arrived home C.J. wanted to bother Daddy. She was determined to have her way. She is intent on shutting the computer off when I am on it. She continuously journeys around the house looking for stuff to get into. When she is asked to stop she looks up and then smiles as if that should excuse her behavior. Today Daddy did not let up and this was the first time she looked up at me. Her eyes were just like a puppy and her mouth dropped and the crying with tears commenced. About twenty-five percent of me was proud that I had stood up to her. The other seventy-five percent was crushed. I had never scolded her in such a way to hurt her feelings, but that is what needed to happen. Of course I picked her up and coddled her afterward. I know it was wrong but you all know C.J. is my Princess. She wanted to stay with me too. So I gather she understood I was not pleased with her and she wanted to change that.

So today we had scenes and intervention. It was an interesting four hour evening. So tonight please pray that we continue to grow in a healthy way. We know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Stand Up!

Ludacris wrote a rap where he said the words, "STAND UP!" a whole lot of times. Well tonight when I put C.J. to sleep, it happened. She has been inching closer and closer each day. Tonight she did it perfectly. When I responded to her whining and crying, I looked in the room and C.J. was standing up in her crib peacock proud. Mommy was very excited, but Daddy was a little upset. Only because if she had leaned just an inch, she would have fallen out. Mommy celebrated the milestone, and C.J. too, with her cunning smile. Daddy, on the other hand, was too worried about the mishap that was just missed to enjoy the moment.

Afterward Daddy decided to rock C.J. to sleep. So against the doctor's and Mommy's desire, Daddy took her out of the crib and laid with her on the couch. She continued to fight her sleep. As per the babysitter's report, C.J. did not sleep all day long. Daddy thought she would fall right asleep, but C.J. had other plans. She squirmed and fussed before she could no longer throw jabs at the Sleepyman. He had knocked her out and she settled right on her Daddy's rib cage.

So tonight C.J. finally stood up! Now Daddy really has to figure out how to lower the crib, and we have to be a lot more careful when she is left to sleep. We do not want her to get so crafty and get out somehow. So pray for Daddy and C.J. that they can enjoy milestones together. We know that prayer can make that happen because prayer changes things, people, and situations!