Second Child

October 30, 2018

Korben is our second child, he was born after we moved to the second place we called home.

Korben's best friend is Charlie Brown, our second pet we shared together.

With a second child I  knew a little more than I did with the first.

I realized labor was going to suck but they said it would be faster than the 1st.... ( by 16 hours, thank you Jesus)

With the second child  I knew I wasn't going to break him but my 1st child might, if he tried to explore all the parts we told him were fragile.

Because you don't take picture of your 5 year old trying to figure out a newborns neck by rocking him

The second child was put to bed awake or as close as possible in a milk comma. I was not repeating the same sleep mistakes that occurred the 1st time around. Korben woke every night, Brodie slept through the night at a month old...go figure.

The second child played with toys, the first born never even knew about as a preschooler. 

The second child spent less time in child care and more time shooting Nerf guns and eating whatever the first born thought to feed him during summer break.

The second child went to football practices before he could walk. The second child played on a football team before his 7th birthday.

The second child, was the last baby to rock, the last to learn to walk, the last to start school and learn to ride a bike.

The second child believes in Santa and the Easter bunny, he believes Daddy is all powerful and that Mama can fix anything scary with just a hug.

My second child was born before Grandma's illness and has no memory of her babysitting, or making root beer floats, and going to the park.

My second child walked towards me and took my hand the last time he seen me stand by Grandma's bed and cry. 





The second child is loved and spoiled 

The second child is protected by the power a big brother brings onto the  playground.

The second child has taught me how to sit at the other side of the table my professional life has placed me. I am now the parent fighting to give a voice to a child that learns differently. A child with an amazing imagination and an ability to problem solve when he couldn't read the words on the page.

My second child has made me stronger and wiser than I ever knew I could be.

My second child is truly powerful, amazing and beautiful.

Happy 9th birthday
Korben Jason

Xo Mama

       
                                                kristenheather

Today we said goodbye

Life lessons my mama taught me

• Use your manners
• Say goodnight and goodbye
• Zip up your coat...regardless of your age
• Feed people, then feed them some more
• Plant something from seed and watch it grow
• The word sorry is meaningless if it comes without change
• Celebrate birthdays and Christmas, Easter & the last day of school
• Your mother is your mother no matter how old you are.....Shayne zip up your coat
• Be kind to people, be kind to animals, bumble bees don't belong in jars
• Say your prayers
• Work hard, what you do matters
• You cant always be your kids best friend, but you can stand beside them as they make their decision 
• Loving someone will not change their behavior but it will change yours
• Family is a gift, children are the jewels 
• Addiction is a disease of the brain: it is preventable and treatable
• Save your money, learn to budget but most importantly remember you cant work for nothing....treat yourself once in awhile
•  No one ever has the right to physically hurt you
• Marriage IS for better or for worse in sickness and in health, true partners take turns being strong, being brave, being true to the reality of where their journey has taken them and it is worth it 
• The most valuable lesson my mama taught me is people do their best with what they know and where they are in that moment. My dad reinforced this when he knew I couldn't watch my moms decline and told me to focus on my boys. The last 4 years have shown me you don't need to be face to face to love someone,  She is in my memories, she is in every meal I make, every lunch I pack, she is in my garden, she is in my heart, she is my mom. 

                                                      kristen heather