Mr. Tran has left the building

The Spud has a lot of names.  He has the name the orphanage gave him that is only used when we go to the doctor’s office.  I also call him Babylicious and, of course, Spud.  Spud began when we were in Vietnam.  I have no idea why.  The name I had chosen for him was perfectly fine, but Spud would sometimes slip out.  It has slipped out more and more frequently which I realize confuses people.  Now my family and friends call him Spud or Spudford (I can’t recall if Laura or Jerri started that, but it cracks me up!).  I call him Spudster, Spud-a-roo and any variation on that name. 

Well, today, I am thrilled to announce that the Spud has a new name.   A legal name.  Introducing Liem Khanh Duc:

 

I wasn’t trying to be secretive or even private about his name .  I’m just kind of funny about details.  Initially when people would ask his name I would say “Duc” and then clarify that it wasn’t yet his legal name.  Who cares?  Obviously me.  See the following conversation that my mom and I had two days ago.

Mom—So the ticket costs $300?

Me—No, it’s $299.20. 

Mom—So, $300.

Me—Almost

What’s the big flippin’ deal about accuracy?  I have no idea.  Anyway, I am celebrating this weekend since his name is changed and his dedication is occurring at church tomorrow.  I’m so excited to be able to celebrate this moment with many of my family and friends who have been there for me since the beginning.  Since they couldn’t all travel to VN with me this is the next best thing.

So his name isn’t Haven like I originally planned.  He just isn’t a Haven.  He’s a big, strong boy and from the time of his referral I realized that he is built like a football player and the sound of the crowds chanting “Haven” at ball games just didn’t work for me.  Duc, however, still did so that is what we call him.  He looks like a Duc (pronounced like DUKE).  Honestly, until almost our last day in Vietnam I still didn’t have a name picked out for him with any degree of finality.  For several days or weeks following his referral I wracked my brain trying to come up with a name.  The Western names just didn’t seem to fit him so I started looking at Vietnamese names and after a while I happened across Liem.  It is pronounced slightly different than Liam, but I suspect most Westerners will just pronounce it the same and that is fine with me. 

Spud responds to either Spud or Duc.  I often say to him “Hi, Duc Duc!” and a few days ago after I said that to him he turned to me and said, “Hi Do Do”.  I almost died laughing.   

Today we spent the afternoon playing outside before heading to the mall.

Ok, there isn’t anything magical about the bay leaves can.  I turned it into a little noise maker by adding pennies and gluing the lid shut.  I did that months ago and it is still one of his favorite toys.  He just loves to shake it, grawing on it and beat it on things.

 He LOVES to eat bark.  Fiber, babe, fiber.