Not my will, but your's be done.



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

THAT...

is how my visit with Parker went this afternooon!!!!!

We spent the afternoon outside on the playground, and it was great!

Ohhhh, mama found me!!









I love that little green eyed boy!!  My afternoon with him was JUST what I needed!  I can't back from it feeling energized and revived!  I really had a great time with him and can't wait to go back and see him tomorrow!  In a little while I'll post some videos that I took today.

Now for your opinion on the name thing....
Parker is his Reece's Rainbown name, not his real name.  Since we were looking at his picture and praying about/for him for a couple of months before we decided to adopt him, we didn't really consider naming him something else, because he had been "Parker" to us for so long.  Once we committed to him, we found out his birth name, and we were not crazy about it.  It was the kind of name we couldn't imagine him going at home in the states, so we just thought that we'd stick with Parker. 
Once we got here and met him, it turns out that his name is pronounced differently than we thought.  We are now considering calling him Alik.  The reason we picked Alik, is because that is almost exactly how his birth name is prounounced.  In fact, Parker rarely responds when we attempt to call him by his birth name, but he has been responding when we call him Alik.  SOOOOO, my question is....What is the general consenses about making Parker's name Alik??  I asked Luke, Ray, and my nephews what they thought yesterday on skype and it was a hung jury.  I know that some people, cough cough, JOSH, are stuck on the name Parker, just because we have been calling him that for so long.  But all this time we were calling him Parker, he was going by another name.  A name very similar to Alik.  Since Parker has been answering to Alik, as opposed to our attempt at saying his birth name, Josh is considering swinging his vote from Parker to Alik.  Another good reason to name him Alik is that I think Parker is going to have the most difficult time with all the changes that getting a new family entail, so keeping his name(sorta) would probably help him, as opposed to getting a new name that is SOOOO different than his old name.  Plus, Alik just happens to be a Russian name that wouldn't stick out in American culture.  I'm thinking we have a winner here, what do you think??

21 comments:

Becky said...

:D Thanks, Daddy! Those smiles!!!

Okay, so now that we know how incoherently thrilled I am to see that your visit was amazing... I like Alik. To be honest, I've had the hardest time with Parker's name; just didn't seem to fit him. Don't ask me why. I couldn't tell you. I like Alik...but more importantly, he's old enough to show his own preference, and if HE is more readily adaptable to that name, I'd run with it. Unless Josh isn't in agreement. ;)

Jeffrey & Shannon said...

Jessica, I like the name "Alik"!
I think you should give him a fun, odd, middle name - how about "shazaam" or "crimefighter" or "pi-yow!"? I would also suggest "danger", but that one is already taken.
Just a thought...
-jeffrey

Krystal said...

i love the name parker, but maybe not for him :) alik is a great name, and if he is responding to it then i say go for it! besides it will be cool for him to have a russian name that may be a little tie to his roots for him...
krystal

Micah said...

Alik... as in Alec? At first I was trying to say it Ah leek. I wasn't sure how the Russian accent was used. Any way you go at it with a Texas drawl it'll come out Alik though. LOL Do you already have his middle name chosen? I know you do with Daniel but can't remember about Parker. Why not Alik Parker Carlin?
And can I just say... God. Answers. Prayers. I am SO glad you had JUST the kind of visit you needed. big. huge. grin.
I LOVE seeing him come alive... his countenance is looking more like his RR picture. I think somebody's gettin' comfortable with his new family. :)

Rachel said...

Alik is cute...or what about Alex? He is so adorable!

Jeffrey & Shannon said...

Love to see pictures of a great visit!

I'm with Micah - I'm not sure how you're pronouncing Alik. I DO love the name Parker, but I'm with you... it might be easier to call him something he's more used to.

And by the way, this is really me - you know it was Jeff who commented earlier. ;)

Jennifer said...

I like the name Alik, but if it were me, I would spell it Alec. But I guess it's normal to try to make names and spellings unique. I just lean more towards traditional.

When I saw that you were going to be the one to go see Alik/Parker without Josh, I couldn't help but think that God knew you were going to need that. You made the comment that you were making great strides with the two young ones, but not with him. I figured Josh probably needed some alone time with Josslyn & Daniel too.

God is good!! And even uses puke to help a Mama & son make more of a connection!

Emi said...

I love the name Alik. Parker is a good name too, but I think it might be important to him since he is "older" (I don't know how they can considerer older a 5/6 years old)and that's probably the only thing he "has" right now. Also, he will be the only kid with a Russian name at school, sports or whatever, how cool is that? ;)

Judy & John Bryant said...

I think that would be best for everyone, and one less adjustment for Alik/Parker. I have been reading your blog, daily, and I haven't seen anything indicating how long your adoption process will take. Have you received any indication, or were you given a time period prior to your journey? We keep you in our prayers, for a sucessful completion of adoption blessing.

travcat said...

I like Alik, especially if he is already used to it. I think it would make it easier for him. We are keeping one our the girls names that we are adopting, but the other name, believe it or not, is the same name as one of our daughters, so that won't work!!!

I love reading about your journey!!!

Catherine
wronginalltherightways-travcat.blogspot.com

Denise said...

Jessica and Josh,


Alik/Parker will be loved no matter his name. For him though less of a change may be the best thing. I am so thrilled that he had a great day with his mommy. It sounded like she had a great day too. Glad Josh got to spend some time with Daniel and Joss. Hope Kellen gets over his Taxi sickness soon. Tell Roman to slow down a little maybe Kellen wont throw up. (poor baby and mommy) Love and Praying for your guys.

Mike M said...

Jessica...I like Alik, it's unique. Not sure of how to say it, is it pronounced Alec (like the Baldwin) or A-leak (rhymes with peak)? Either way I think I would go with the name that he is most comfortable with.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Micah--Alik Parker Carlin. I love Parker but it would be easier for him probably. I am so thrilled to know he has a family--I have prayed for him a long time and seeing him smile in those pictures you posted has lifted my spirits. He will bless your family in many ways. So happy you had a wonderful visit today. I can't wait for your updates. Hope the baby gets over his vomiting spells.

Sarah said...

What about Alek? Or Parker Alik/Alek, but just always calling him by his middle name.
The only "downside" is that the full name is kind of hard to say: Alik Carlin... doesn't necessarily roll off the tongue easily. (That bothers some parents, doesn't bother others.)

Regardless of what his name ends up, he's gorgeous and amazing and going to grow up in a beautiful family, knowing his God loves him so much. I'm so happy for him!!

(P.S. My son's middle name is Danger. Yes, we're goofy like that. At least my husband is.)

Kelly said...

I just wanted to let you know that you and your family are a huge inspiration. I have been following your blog for awhile and am so thrilled to see the kids' progression. Thank you for sharing your experience.

M. E. said...

Love these pics!!!! Glad you had a nice day : )

Alek is my preferred way to spell Alik! American spelling will be different from Russian spelling regardless : ) One of my children has a name that always throws people off. (Ainslie). We have gotten a zillion strange pronunciations. It's frustrating at times. I could see people being thrown off in America by the spelling Alik

Alek Crimefighter-awesome. Yes : )

Alek Parker-is nice too!

Blessings

Melissa

journeytoonemore.blogspot.com

The Happy Half Dozen said...

Parker is one of my favorite names but if it doesn't fit him, it just doesn't. I personally an not a fan of the spelling, Alec and Alek just look better to me, for what it's worth ;)

Anonymous said...

How about Parker Alik Carlin and call him alik or let him choose. either way sounds good alik parker or parker alik

Jordi said...

Mrs. Jessica!! You HAVE to keep the middle name I came up with still or I will be CRUSHED!!! Alik (Alec Reid Carlin) Is an AWESOME name!

Jennifer said...

You know i'm partial to the name Alec/Alik. Alik Carlin sounds good!!!

Anonymous said...

I like Alex Reid Carlin best. I like Alek, but it is hard to say with Carlin.