Mama Monday... {Nichole}!!!

 

 

Tell us about yourself...
Hello, I’m Nichole and this year I will have been married to my high school sweetheart for 12 years!! We were blessed with our little blue-eyed angel, whom I prayed for, last May. She has definitely brought a big change in our lives. We are enjoying every moment of watching her grow and learning how to get through each day as a parent. I am also a teacher; it is my passion and right now I am only 3 weeks away from getting my Masters! Yay!

Husband love...
Yep, we fell in love in high school and I love that; I love that we have stories from high school together and continue to make new memories each day. I knew I was going to marry him and I have been very lucky that he loves me for who I am and never compares me to others. I love him for that, he is my rock. We have been married for 12 years, though it does not seem that long. If you ask either of us how long we’ve been together, you have to give us a minute to think about it. That’s what I love about us. We definitely complement each other, he likes to clean & I like to make a mess! One thing we have learned over the years is that you have to have open communication and be willing to get your feelings hurt at times and other times realize that you made a mistake, suck it up and apologize. But communication is key for us in trying to understand each other and support one another. We also know that putting God first will help us not only be better in our own lives, but as parents as well. I am a very lucky person and very blessed to have married such a wonderful man.

Mama love...
My little miss…I prayed for her. I prayed God would bring me a child that I could love and share my passions with. I also prayed that my baby would have blue eyes, I’ve prayed that for as long as I can remember. Guess what? God gave me my little A and she has the most beautiful eyes. I know she is from God each and every day. I never knew how much my heart could hurt, but when I am without her, it does hurt. I love seeing her grow and learn new things. I love being a part of this journey, her journey.

Challenges you have faced on this mama journey...
The biggest thing I have always worried about is wondering if my daughter is getting enough to eat! Crazy I know, but it stresses me out and I always have to step back and de-stress over food. I worry about actions I do and things I say and how they will affect her. I will always worry about these things, but the best I can do is pray that I am a good role model and show her how to love.

Mama advice for surviving the tough days...
I decided a while back that the best way to get through rough days is to surround myself with other moms who are like me, going on this journey of parenting and hoping we get it right. It’s nice to be around other moms and talk about what your little one is doing, swapping baby food strategies and meals and leaning on each other when you aren’t sure what you are doing.

Simple pleasures...
What can I say; I am in like with Pinterest. I’ve learned to try new foods and new crafts that I wouldn’t have thought I could do. Right now my simple pleasure is being able to take a shower and get ready without getting interrupted. But the best pleasures in my day are with my little Miss. She is my joy; her giggles and smile take away any frustration from my day.

Money saving tip...
Always go to the grocery store with a list and plan your meals in advance. I try to plan my meals so that I have leftovers that can be eaten at lunch and dinner. I’m not the greatest at making meals (or cleaning up) so making dishes that are in one pot works best. If I go to the store with a list, I do not stray from it. One stray leads to others, which I don’t need.

Health and fitness...
I do not like to exercise. But I do want to be here to see my little one grow up, so I married this wonderful man who encourages me and pushes me. I would not hike mountains without this man! I do try to walk everyday if the weather permits it, little Miss loves to be outside so that’s where I try to be.

Good read...
The Bible! There’s so much adventure, love, friendship, and so much more in there!!

Beauty secret...
Keep your hair trimmed! Don’t let split ends creep up further, if that happens you will end up cutting more off than you wanted to. If you want your hair to grow drinks lots of water, keep it trimmed, and I’m sure there’s good food out there that’s supposed to help it too.

Recipe...
This has been a go to meal at my home since it was discovered on Pinterest.
Some sort of Chicken Soup
2 cups of chicken stock, can of rotel, can of corn, can of black beans (drained & rinsed), 2 frozen chicken breasts, 8 oz cream cheese, 1 packet dry ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon cumin (this much will make it spicy, I usually do a tsp), 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder (I also cut this in half). Put all ingredients (except cream cheese. Stir that in 1 hour before serving) in crock pot and cook 6-8 hours. Shred chicken, and enjoy!
It’s also really good with homemade tortilla chips!

Dessert...
Ummm…dessert, my favorite meal of the day! I love to try new things, some turn out great and then there are those that should not have been made at all. This recipe has been a big hit:
Strawberries&Cream Angel Food Cake Roll
Yes, you will eat it all in one day!

This is a really easy pie to make; I would say it takes less than 20 minutes.
Smores Pie

Closing words...
I am not a domesticated kinda gal, but falling in love with my daughter makes me want to hone in on the skills I do have and do the best that I can do for her. I also know that perfection is not here on Earth, so in God I will always do my best for my family and am thankful each day that I have been blessed. Being a new mom will be the best journey I have ever gone on. How exciting!