Memorial Day 2010

Hmmm, where do I begin? C.J. and Daddy hung out all day today, so you know I have a few good stories. We started the day by both waking up and being lazy in bed. C.J. awoke first, making her usual noise. Then Daddy hopped out of bed to pick her up, and bring her in bed with him. This was to ensure that she would doze back off and let Daddy sleep for a few more moments. It worked, as it normally does. So Daddy had wanted to leave the house around nine to get up to East Orange well before the parade was to begin. As usual, sleep won out and we did not leave to a good 10:15am, arriving in East Orange at 11:00am exactly. We were on time, too, because they never start the parade on time. We even found a great parking space.

So since there were no trees where we stood along the parade route, we created an eclipse for C.J. with human bodies and an umbrella. As the parade went along, C.J. was very attentive. You could see her eyes fixed to the different sights that came along. There was a band, motorcycles, fire trucks, a clown, steppers, sports teams, antique cars and politicians. C.J. stayed awake for the duration of the parade as well. She let me know when she wanted to eat, and I handled that task accordingly.

After the parade we had a few hours to burn before the barbecue so we went to Ma's house. I, Daddy, changed C.J., no poop, YEA! We laid around and relaxed in the cool breeze. C.J. played with Uncle Big Duke, and of course, fussed a little with her Pop. Finally she dozed off and Daddy caught a quick "Z" as well. At about 3:30pm, it was time to head out to the barbecue. Once there, C.J. cased out her surroundings. She did not want to be with anyone else, at first, but her Daddy. At the barbecue she tasted some of her great aunt's macaroni salad...she ate it of course without any complaints.

Halfway through we received a call checking to see if we were OK in a rainstorm. Mommy said it was pretty bad at home, but Daddy let her know the sun was shining brightly. As soon as I hung up the phone, the sky turned a different color. C.J. went inside, and we listened to music until the rain passed. We said goodbye to all the family members, called Mommy and headed home.

It was a great day for C.J. and Daddy. She even rode in the backseat alone very well. She only cried for about 5 minutes on the ride home. Once i started passing her some snacks she calmed down again. She is really growing up a bit. I guess to match the fact that people believe she is older than nine months. I know she is a big girl but she is not that big. So now it is time to prepare for the work week. C.J. fought her sleep, even though she only napped for a half hour. Mommy made Daddy leave her be. Daddy had to fight not tending to his Princess and now she is Asleep. So this weekend Daddy had two full days with C.J., and he will tell you this. This Friday, she will be back at the sitter's, even though Daddy is off, LOL! So go ahead and pray folks, for Daddy and C.J. Prayer changes things, people, and situations. Just know I will be sending the counter prayer up against all of you who say I should keep her on Friday!

First BBQ

Daddy manned the grill and created his soon to be famous, Jerk Turkey Burgers. (I must give credit to a good friend for introducing me to the jerk burgers. We feasted on them as we tailgated at Rutgers games. He also made some very tender and juicy chicken breast that were well received. Over the past year Daddy has developed a passion for grilling. One he plans to hone over the years. As we were leaving for church this morning, on time for a change. Mommy asked Daddy was this CJ's first BBQ. Daddy thought for a moment then said, "I think so."

CJ was well behaved in church today as well. I did not hear her much. I was able to see her clapping her hands though. I hope that means that she was enjoying what she was hearing. After church it was off to Ma's house to eat. Mommy let CJ eat a little off of her plate and she seemed to enjoy it. CJ even was given the opportunity to taste a little bit if an ice cream sundae. Mommy did it not Daddy, can you believe it?! When we arrived home Mommy told Daddy that he and CJ smelled like BBQ. That is because one, daddy grilled. Two, CJ wanted to be with her Daddy all day long. She would reach out to him, cry when she was not with him and all. What a special feeling she produces.

So tomorrow, Lords willing, CJ and Daddy get to hang out. She will attend her first parade. This is something Daddy did when he was a child and he decided to take his Princess back to his hometown parade for her first. Mommy does not want to join us, so it will be just the two of us. We might make an appearance at a BBQ but that has yet to be determined. So pray for us we have had bumpy rides filled with crying for a few months now. However we know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

75 to 1

Today C.J. celebrated her great-grandmother's 75th birthday. She wore a lavender outfit that she brought for her, especially for the occasion. Daddy wore the same color. She brought everyone something to wear. The nerve of her, lol! So Ma (as C.J. and everyone calls her) has 75 years on earth to C.J.'s soon-to-be, prayerfully, one year on earth. At the celebration we played a trivia game where we found out the President of the United States in 1935 was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Everyone knew that because that was the year he signed the Social Security Act which Ma benefits from, but I wonder if C.J. will benefit from it when she is 75 years old? Here are some other things C.J. learned about costs in the year 1935:

Here are some samples of grocery prices (and more) from 1935.


1935 U.S. Bureau of the Census
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Flour (5 lbs) 25.3 cents
Bread (lb) 8.3
Round steak (lb) 36.0
Bacon (lb) 41.3
Butter (lb) 36.0
Eggs (doz.) 37.6
Milk (1/2 gal.) 23.4
Oranges (doz.) 22.0
Potatoes (10 lbs) 19.1
Coffee (lb) 25.7
Sugar (5 lbs) 28.2
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0873707.html


What Things Cost in 1935
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Car: $580
Gasoline: 19 cents/gal
House: $6,300
Bread: 8 cents/loaf
Milk: 47 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 3 cents
Average Annual Salary: $1,500
http://www.tvhistory.tv/1935%20QF.htm

Hunterdon County, 1930s
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Local Prices:
Bananas (4 lbs.): 19 cents
Bayer Aspirin (100 tablets): 50 cents
Bread: 7 cents
Butter (1 lb.): 37 cents
Campbell's Soup (three cans): 20 cents
Cream of Wheat: 23 cents
Ford V-8, four door: $495
Ground Beef (1 lb.): 21 cents
Hunterdon County Democrat (1-yr. subscription): $2
Jell-O (two packets): 11 cents
Log Cabin Syrup (16 oz.): 21 cents
Maxwell House coffee (1 lb.): 31 cents
Motor Oil (2 gallons): 75 cents
Post Bran Flakes: 11 cents
Potatoes (3 lbs.): 14 cents

National Prices:
House: $6,296
Car: $580
Milk: 47 cents/gallon
Gas: 11 cents/gallon
Bread: 8 cents
Postage stamp: 3 cents

C.J. was well behaved too. She ate some potatoes, pasta, bread and fruit, and then took a nap. Oh yeah, of course, she wore a hat to the party. She finally met some people she had not met, and they were happy to see her. I think her nap was a bit much because she fought her sleep very hard tonight. Or maybe it was that she wanted to honor her uncle's (Big Duke) instructions to watch the Lakers game. Well she got about two quarters in. She was in her playpen and she literally stood up in the corner to get a better view. She just could not hold out much longer, though. I picked her up and laid with her on the couch until she fell asleep shortly before the half. Her uncle would be proud. All three of us will be ecstatic if the point differential is the same as it is now at the end of the next 24 minutes.

Another thought just came to mind. Will basketball still be what it is in seventy-five years? Will the Lakers still be on top? Who knows. So, as Daddy gets ready to do what C.J. is already doing, you all take it easy and do not forget to pray. Prayer, as you know, changes things, people, and situations.

Friday's Alone

Well folks today happened and now it is over. All I can say now is that I will spend most of my Friday's off from here out alone. Now some of you will sit there and berate me before you even hear about the day. In no way is this decision negative. As i told you last night the sitter told Mommy to wish me luck with CJ and boy did she know what I needed.

This morning CJ and I drove Mommy to work and then made our way back home. We did stop to garb a few bagels while int he shop we chatted with another customer who had a little girl. He bid Daddy good luck on the way out the door. Did he know what I was in store for as well? he did mention that he had his two kids yesterday and that when his wife came in the door he hurled them to her. Anyway, we arrived home and CJ allowed me to prepare breakfast but that was it. After we ate she wanted to take over. The girl is determined to do whatever she wants when she wants. Halfway through the day Mommy text me and asked how things were going? I responded by simply saying, "Lord help me!"

I want you to understand this. CJ is exploring now. She is all over the place and you have to watch her closely. Therefore you really do not want to leave her. Even though she can do things on her own I have not fully trusted her not to hurt herself so it adds anxiety to the day. To be continued.

The Night Before

Tomorrow is Daddy's first Friday off for the summer. All week he had to determine whether or not he would spend the first one with or without Princess C.J. So now, on the night before Friday, he has made his decision and that is to keep C.J. home with him. He drove through a very bad rain and lightning storm to handle all he needed to do tonight so he would be able to hang out at home tomorrow. C.J. and Daddy will drop Mommy off, then eat oatmeal (maybe) and watch Maury.

Daddy figured he would help the sitter be able to leave for a mini break a bit early. Since she is always so accommodating for us, it is the least I could do for her stellar services. She was grateful and wished Daddy good luck with C.J. on tomorrow. C.J. and I have hung out before, but now that she is crawling, standing, and a lot more demanding, I do not know what I am in for. I will say this, I will run the house tomorrow, not her.

So she is sleeping peacefully and has been for a long while now. She went for a ride and slept most of the way back. That means she will be well rested on tomorrow. No problem, Daddy recharges with very few hours of sleep. He has been drinking the proper amounts of water to keep his body hydrated and energized. So pray for us tomorrow. We know that prayer changes things, people, and situations. Hopefully Mommy will recognize her husband, her daughter and her home when she gets in.

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,