We have a name for our Little China

I can't believe it's been over a year since we began believing in our "Little China." She is beginning to feel real to all of us as we close in on the last half of our adventure to bring her home. All this time, we have been reluctant to name our daughter. For me personally, the reluctance stemmed from fear of becoming too attached to the very idea of her before it felt close enough. Al just couldn't agree to any of the names Julee and I suggested but he shortened her name to "LC" and we all liked calling her that. Julee probably would have named her about 5 different names over the past year. Most of all, I wanted to be sure that we left room for Little China herself to have a say in her American name.

But the fact is, we did need to choose her name so that when we finalize her adoption in China she will have a valid American Birth Certificate. So, the topic would come up every once in a while but we really never found a name that just clicked for all of us! That is, until the wonderful day when Julee and I were at the grocery store and she announced that she came up with Little China's name! Honestly, I was prepared for another "Oh, that's cute" reaction. But she explained that she thought of one that rhymes with "LC" and starts with the sound of "China." She said, "How about Chelsea." I stared at her for a sec and thought, "I kinda like that." And I LOVED that she came up with it and had such a good story behind it. I told her it was wonderful but we would have to ask Dad what he thought about it first. He LOVED it, said it's perfect right away. And of course, we are going to keep the "ee" tradition going that MaMa started and spell her name C-h-e-l-s-e-e!

Speaking of my mom, she suggested we honor Al's mom when naming our Little China. So with Al's blessing, we are going to name her Chelsee Rose (for Rosemary). Bit was sooo happy with the name, she cried. We will of course add part or all of her Chinese name as her second middle name. I suppose I am destined to spell every name every day of my life. Julee likes that Chelsee will have 2 middle names just like she does!

I am sooo thrilled that Julee came up with the name for her sister. It just means the world to me! Chelsee, we are soooooo anxious to have you join us....we just can't wait!!