I am so thrilled to be joining the No Hands But Ours guest blogger team! My name is Nicole and just like you, I wear many hats. I am a wife to an amazing man who always pushes me to go after my dreams and supports me in every way. We’ve grown so much together in our faith & life, and I think I’m in love with him more today than I was when we got married 8 years ago! I am also a mama to 3 special kiddos who are everything to me – 2 biological and 1 recently adopted from China. Peyton is 6 1/2 and is a smart and caring 1st grader who loves God. Ryan is 4, an adorably sweet & sensitive little guy who I’ve nicknamed “lovebug.”
Brooklyn is our 19 month old little firecracker who we brought home from China through the special needs program – she had a diagnosed un-repaired cleft lip & palate and undiagnosed physical delays. She’s been home for 7 months now and has undergone 2 lip repair surgeries and more physical therapy sessions than I can count. We have a palate repair scheduled for February, and then she has a surgery break for a few years. Although at that point, speech therapy and possibly occupational therapy will begin. She’s been through a lot, but has blossomed into a wonderfully spunky, sunshiny, fun baby girl that is so full of life; and we’re completely in love with her! We feel so blessed that God led us down this path of adoption – although it’s been difficult at times, we have grown and stretched so much and learned to feel a love we didn’t know before. What an amazing journey!
When I am not doing the wife & mama thing, I am a professional newborn photographer and pretty much adore my “job.” I have had a few careers during my life but I really think I’ve found my calling with portraiture. I love to read (although never seem to find enough time) and I also enjoy blogging about our life on my personal blog and am excited to share a little bit of that with the NHBO readers! I am, by no means, an expert on anything … but I hope and pray that my perspective of Brooklyn’s adoption and special needs will help some of you!
-nicole 🙂
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