CJ and Daddy in the Morning

Ok, so I did not get up with her at 3:18am. I knew she woke up but once I opened my eye and saw that Mommy had her I rolled back over and then dozed back off. I guess subconsciously, I said, "No need for us both to lose sleep." So this morning I woke up around 8:00am, which is good for me. Daddy decided to take vacation early and he wants to get as much rest as he possibly can.

So the good thing about the morning is that CJ gets up on Daddy type time. So when I wiped the cold out my eye, (OK that was a shameless Biggie plug, I saw the movie Notorious for the umpteenth time the other night) I looked up and my girl was standing up waiting to get out the crib. So I picked her up and brought her into the living room with me. I then figured since we were up we might as well eat and prepared us both breakfast. CJ had oatmeal and Daddy had Fruity Pebbles and toast. In keeping with Daddy's mode of being home next it was bath time for CJ. Even though Thursday is usually our bath day but their was no problem with us doing things a day early. Since Daddy is home now CJ might develop a slightly different pattern. It will be Daddy trying to help out.

What Daddy and CJ have to work out is the TV schedule. Daddy usually watched Maury when he is home. The problem is that CJ needs to watch educational television to help with her development. Daddy is all for it but now he has to watch Maury some other way. Or he can set her up on the computer and he can take the television. What I think might be best is that we find some family television or some life skills like shows, i.e., cooking or home repair that will be beneficial to us both. Daddy was even thinking about using that time to talk with CJ and read to her. (Ok, the reading thing might be quick though, music might be better for us)

So now the day is done and night time is upon us. CJ is sleeping and daddy is soon to join her. We have a long day tomorrow, so I want to make sure we are well rested. So as always you all keep praying. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

A Loaded Diaper

So today CJ#1 came over to play with CJ#2. This was early in the day. The report from the mommies was that they played well together. So tonight when they were back at it again the dad's got to witness the play. Now you must understand that #1 is a bit older than #2 and that #1 is a boy and #2 is a girl. So of course the mommies want the play to be nice and pleasant and they want #1 to be nice to #2. On the contrary Daddy (me) says to #1, you keep being rough and toughen her up. The funny thing is that #2 welcomes the rough play. She might get hit on the head but she will look up and laugh. Even when #1 tries to pick her up she goes along for the ride. Tonight he even fell on her and she bounced back up and went about her business. So of course I am smiling at this but mommy had a little worry on her face, lol!

The strange thing is that CJ did this will a loaded diaper. I stepped out to get dinner real quick and she was fuming then. The only reason I did not change her was because I knew she was getting in the tub. When I got back we had company so the bath had to wait. It did not seem to interrupt her play or bother her play partner. I was able to stand it a bit but sooner than later the aroma became more and more potent. Daddy could not stand it any longer so I changed her. I didn't look to see if her earring back was in the turd though, lol! I forgot to mention that I think she swallowed it earlier this evening.

Well, now that she smells good we have put her down for the night. Tonight it was without to much drama. So now I am going to rest up a bit, we just finished the favors for her party so they are out the way. Step by step and day by day we will get through this without stress. I am promising myself that. so you all pray for and with me. We all know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Calling It A Summer

The one problem that occurs when you are staring a lengthy vacation in the face is that every day becomes long. That is how today was. The ride to work though quick in time seemed long. The morning at work though filled with a lot of work and a large tour presentation seemed long. (I did get an email from a prospective student that mad it all worth my while though) That afternoon went by like a hourglass with a clog which equals, long. The ride home was long. Now as I sit alone and watch television the evening is long too.

So earlier I began the process to leave work for vacation a day early. I was going to try and make the week out but I never got any time to relax after my program ended so I am going to exit much sooner. This way I am well rested for vacation and CJ and I can make the most out of the time we have with each other for 24 hours a day.

While I was at work today I received an exclamatory text from Mommy. I saw a picture of CJ drinking from her cup! Now you have to understand this has been something a long time in the making. Mommy has brought many cups. All types, all colors, all brands, and all styles. Up until today CJ wanted nothing to have with any of them. So as I told Mommy, when she woke up today with the goal of finally drinking out of her cup I bet she knew how excited her Mommy would be. So when I received the picture, all I could do was let out a sly chuckle in excitement of her accomplishment.

So now that my actual summer is coming to an end I have to begin the vacation process. Finalizing this barbecue is first on the agenda. Then I need to finish the sermon for Sunday. After Sunday comes, the rushed packing process will begin. Relaxing will come soon but I will pace myself as I go about doing all i set out to do. So for tonight, when you pray, please pray for my students. Some of them are really going through some stuff that only God can fix. I am a believer that prayer changes things, people and ALL situations!

The Weekend That Was!

This was a great weekend for CJ and Daddy. We will define a great weekend as one that CJ and Daddy spend the majority of it together. For the past few months we have not enjoyed this type of weekend at all. It was Daddy's fault. He always had something to do or someplace to go. Then, on every Sunday in July, it was back to Ewing for work. This all ended on this past Thursday with the end of his program. So this weekend began with a relaxation day on Friday. Then on Saturday, Daddy and CJ dawned the same colors and went to a BBQ. Mommy did not hang...instead she attended a church function. She had a nice time and we both missed her.

So CJ and Daddy together is always an interesting situation. Yesterday, Daddy picked out her outfit to make sure they went along nicely. When we get to the barbecue all was well until another kid came in with CJ's sneakers on. Daddy was instantly pissed. He almost went to change his Princess but realized that all the outfits in the bag were meant to match the sneakers of the day. So he just had to deal with it. Luckily the other kid, for some reason, needed to change. Of course I went over to her guardian for the day and said, " I am glad you changed your kid because I was going to change mine but could not." Call me shallow but I never like to see someone with something that I have on in the same place. CJ ate herself into a nice long nap. She was pooped because she ate everything her Daddy ate. All except the hot dogs as she is not ready for those yet.

Today we went to a Jazz Brunch. I saw all my hard work in action today. When the musician was playing my Princess stood at attention. She even clapped at all the right moments. She really made herself known today because she was the loudest person in the room. She met a lot of Daddy's mentors, colleagues, students, and friends today. She was on her best behavior and friendly, too. This was different from yesterday when she did not want to be bothered by anyone. It was a great afternoon with CJ and Mommy. I really look forward to our time together in Las Vegas.

So CJ is down for the night and Daddy is going to chill with Mommy for a bit. He is the only one that has a destination in the morning, and that place is work. He is still due in and even has to present admissions info. Mommy and CJ get to sleep in as they have been doing for the duration of the summer. Yes, I am a hater but I will get over it. So for the night, do not forget to pray. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

From The Home Front

For the first time in a long time I am typing on my own computer. My summer program ended yesterday and today I had the day off. I spent it in what I am finding to be the best way possible. For most of the day I did absolutely nothing. Then later on in the evening it was off to handle some important business. With just about a week left until CJ's first birthday there are a lot that has to be done in a little bit of time. Daddy and Mommy go back and forth about the final details on a daily basis. All the while CJ sits idle, and as Daddy reminded Mommy today, will not remember any of this.

I just laid CJ down for the night. She finally fell asleep after resting in my arms for most of the night after dinner. Mommy wanted to take her and put her down many times but Daddy insisted on letting her chill with her Daddy since she was quiet and still. I must confess, I was not letting her go. I have been waiting for this night for a month now. Tonight it came and I soaked it all up. CJ has a way of making sure I am real. She will grab my face, then my head. Then, she kisses my head and grabs my beard and moves in for a kiss. I guess I am authenticated once she finishes her ritual. Mommy laughed today and said, "You just sit there too"...lol. I do because anything she does right about now I will let her do.

Daddy finally solidified what CJ would receive for her first birthday present from him. (I have to guess is this a dual gift from her parents with Mommy, or is she getting her something else? I mean it is OK if she wants to roll with Big Poppa!) We were in a store and we came across a horse. I showed it to CJ and she was not scared. She even graced the horse's head and smiled. The head moves and it gallops and she was all giddy. Therefore the Rocking Horse became the gift she would get. Now I will admit this is a far ways from the very high end jewelry I initially thought of getting her but it allows me room to make the gifts better and better with time. I have some wiggle room. Those earrings I wanted to get would have made me get another job by the time her 5th birthday came around.

So CJ is asleep, and Daddy is finishing up his blog and then will chill out with Mommy. We have a long weekend of events to attend and we do not get a break until we are resting peacefully in Vegas in two weeks. So now, I remind you to pray. Trust me my prayer list is growing and I do not mind because prayer changes things, people, and situations. You all take care.

Finally

"It's been a long time, I shouldnah have left you with out a dope beat to step to." As I sit in the office at 12:27am, those words sprinkled into my mind. I always plan to write but never get around to it after a long day on two jobs. Those words were said by Timbaland on an Aaliyah track. Anyway, this business of coming home for a day and then being away from my Princess for a week is coming to an end. After a summer of chaperoning other peoples children and having to get text and voice-mail pictures about mine, Daddy is coming home. So it will be back to blogging daily and that is the way I like it. I think the time away stunted some of CJ's progress too. She did not want to do anything new and her Daddy miss it. I do not blame her either. At night I yearned to hear her voice or just watch her sleeping as I do sometimes but I could only look at the pictures I have stored in my phone to remind me of her. I did not think this would be so hard but it has been painful and almost impossible to cope with.


So now I get to go home and be with my Baby (that is Mommy for those who can not keep up) and my Princess. This week we will have the honor of implementing the plan for CJ's 1st birthday barbecue. I have said from day one that all of her parties can be BBQ's since she wanted to come into the world during a summer month. I still do not know what I am going to get her as a present but I have decided to scale down from my original thought. I do not want to give her to much while she is young, then when she is older have run out of ideas. Also I do not want her to think money grows on trees and that he gets showered with presents just because. Work ethic, sacrifice and earn will all be words CJ will be familiar with.

So now that I am thoroughly tired and need to get some sleep I will leave you with these parting words. Always remember to pray. Prayer changes things, people, and situations.

NOTE TO CJ: Daddy is coming home!

Bathe Yourself CJ

Well today started off in a weird way. I was scheduled to visit the University of Delaware. The alarm was set for 5:45am, CJ's bag was packed and we were all set to go. At 7:00am this morning the doorbell rang. It was my mother and brother who I was supposed to be waiting for, with CJ, all set to go. I overslept! I guess I hung out too late last night...boy am I getting old! With that said, yesterday was a very filled day. CJ went to the babysitter. Mommy and Daddy needed to go handle some business, Mommy needed her hair done, and Daddy had a meeting to attend. How I wish I had last weekend back, but we kept it moving. CJ had a great day at the sitter. When Mommy called you could hear her in the background. I guess she was keeping the folks entertained. It has been a month since she saw them last and she has changed so much. She is trying to communicate, she is standing and her teeth are coming in rapidly. She is really growing and Daddy is trying to keep up.

So as you read earlier, Daddy overslept so CJ did not make the trip. Daddy wanted to give Mommy a break and he screwed that up. Come on Daddy, get things right! After Daddy was halfway through the tour he texted Mommy to tell her that maybe it was best that CJ did not make the trip. It was very hot out and she would have been miserable in all that heat. She might have enjoyed the ice cream we received at the end of the day, though. Once home Daddy wanted to show CJ how to clean up after herself, but he failed. He ended up cleaning and CJ continued to play with what she wanted.

Today Daddy bathed the Diva. Now, Mommy has warned me that bath time has become very interesting. I went into it with optimism but ended with a wet shirt and needing to sit down. CJ now is all over the place. She splashes, she gets up, she flops, and she tries to get out of both tubs. I had to tell her several times to sit down, get back in the tub, let me finish. It was a battle in there and I would say that we had a draw. Daddy will come back with another game plan for the next time he and CJ enter the ring. Or CJ could do the honors of bathing herself. I am serious people, and after that she can continue to put her diaper on, grease her skin and then fix her drink. I know my thoughts are way out the box but if she wants to get all excited during bath time instead of letting Daddy do what he needs to do then independence will be hers.

So now CJ is fighting her sleep. Instead of letting her Mommy enjoy this great cobbler Daddy baked this evening. So now the stage is set for the next bath fight between Daddy and CJ. Who will win? Cast your vote people, I will let you know next Friday night who wins. You keep praying folks, prayer is STILL changing things, people, and situations.