Names

Last night we received a DVD from our agency containing a short video of Song Song that was taken in February. I was somewhat apprehensive about reviewing it, fearing that I would see a sickly or unhealthy child. What I saw in the video made my week.

The video, taken in the orphanage, shows Song Song in a cute little pink outfit with ducks on it. She is standing in the middle of a conference or meeting room, and is surrounded by four or five caregivers who are speaking to her in Chinese - my assumption is that they're asking her to smile, to sing, and to say hello. Song Song looks at them as if to say, "um. I don't think I'll be doing any of that." She has the eyes of an old soul, and she is much more beautiful than we imagined. The only photographs we have of her are from doctors reports and medical records.

At two years old, she is walking and running. She looks extremely healthy and well-taken care of. She has a little round face, chubby cheeks, and cupid lips. And she did a little dance, just swaying her hips too and fro. She is a little doll.

I am terribly relieved because, although her medical records reveal that she is a healthy, happy child, I have heard of that often adopted children are small and developmentally delayed until they arrive home. Soon after returning to the states, they quickly catch up. But the child I saw in the video appeared to be every bit as healthy and developed as our biological child was at that age. I have watched it about 17 times since we received it.

I asked our daughter what Song Song's American name should be. "Coco" was her answer. No. we have to keep thinking, I said.

My good friend Kiersten (Katyess to all of you) sent me a card in the mail a few days back. Apparently, I had sent her suggestions for names for at least two of her three children, the oldest of which is graduating from high school this year. You can imagine what my suggested names were. The ones I recall were "Senator," and "Pea Eye."

Here they are:

1. Glendine;
2. Ashanti;
3. Playa (Ply-ah);
4. Lute (Multi-purpose - an ode to our alma mater, Pacific Lutheran University; the name of an instrument that plays songs; and rhymes with flute, which is an instrument I play);
5. Stinkwaddio - actually a recurring nickname for Kiersten's kids, which she tells me I can feel free to use;
6. Any common name, only spelled phonetically, such as "Viktoryah," (Kiersten's cousin actually named/spelled her daughter this), or "Cawnee";
7. Anything beginning with a "K," such as Kara, Karra, Kyla, Kayla, Kaylee, Keela, Koola & the Gang, or - my personal favorite - Kehyl'ar (a girl in Kiersten's daughter's class is named this);
8. Nigela (Kiersten's personal serious favorite). I like it too, Kier, but it reminds me of one of the judges on America's Next Top Model, Nigel. He is a dick.

Egan, can I have any of your rejected names?