the mommy way

We have had the Littles for over two weeks now. I just posted pictures on the family blog. You cannot see the new kids’ faces, but you can at least get an idea of how awesome they are. 🙂

We are still overwhelmed by the well wishes and love that has been shown to us. These Littles are perfectly made for our family. They complement our ninos in all the right ways. We have fallen fast for each of their personalities. And I have personally adjusted faster than I ever thought possible to seven children. It is actually pretty easy–knock on wood. And what I mean is, what is another three when you already have four. *slightly sarcastic, but mostly serious*

Going from zero to four was much more difficult. Even if you factor out the orphanage mentality, language barriers, and culture shock. It was still more difficult because I had only myself to worry about for years and years. Although Adam and I were excited and ready to make the leap into an instant family, there was much adjusting to be done on our end…not just the on ninos’.

This time around, though, I am already a mom. I have mommy routines and expectations. I have a mommy car and a mommy purse. I have a mommy mentality about everything. And I have four children who are accustomed to my mommy ways. So the three newbies are basically inserted into a culture that we have cultivated over the past two and a half years. They add to it, but it already exists. What we created with the ninos we are now extending with the Littles. Since the ninos are great at modeling my expectations, discipline is business as usual. That is huge. Example: We did not have to teach Joey to stand on the wall for time out. He had seen the other kids do it so when it was his turn, he knew exactly what to do. BLESSING!

I sure like being a mom. I am not perfect, but I try to be a reflective practitioner of my craft so that I continue to improve. It is pretty much the best job on earth. No matter how my children have come into my home, I am glad they are here, and that I get the opportunity to practice the mommy way!

5 comments

  1. YOU ARE AN AWESOME MOMMY! LOVE THE PHOTOS, EVEN WITH THE “BLEEPS!” THEY ARE TOTALLY ADORABLE! ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW GOD JUST KNITS THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN INTO A FAMILY. I PRAY THAT THE CHILDREN WILL FIND A “HOME” A “FAMILY” AND “LOVE” RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE! YOU ARE A FANTABULOUS MOMMY! IT’S SO REFRESHING TO HEAR YOUR EXCITEMENT IN YOUR POSTS! YOU’RE AWESOME WOMAN! CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MORE OF THE MCCRACKEN FAMILY ADVENTURES! ROCK ON! =)

  2. Your post just made me grin ear to ear. You shine in your role as Mommy. May God continue to bless you and your children!

  3. So glad that you are a step ahead of us in this adoption thing. It helps me – seeing how much my life mirrors yours in so many ways (and not at all in other ways). I had thought it might be easier on a second adoption go-round, but reading your blog confirms it in my mind.

    Oscar keeps asking for a brother – and the jury is still out on that request! He actually asked for an older brother (huh?), but I’d be more inclined to go younger (Oscar is 13, that would mean adopting a teenager – yikes, I’m crazy, but not insane!). Maybe someday in the future we could make that leap again, but not right now.

    BTW, love Annie’s name ;-).

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