[jalapeno]

We transitioned with a nickname. We actually brought our daughter home at two days old. The name given to her by her birthmom was too weird for us. We tried it for a while but it was really akward when people asked us how she got that name. So we started calling her by a nickname when she was a few months old (Dee Dee). To be honest, I wasn't totally in love with the name Dee Dee at first. But it's REALLY grown on her. So when the adoption was finalized we chose a "D" name so that the nickname would still fit. We finalized the adoption at 17 months and she's over 2 years now. People still call her "Dee Dee" often but her "new" name has also really caught on. When I ask her what her name is now, she tells me her first name rather than her nickname. But she also points to herself if I ask her where "Dee Dee" is. We also kept her original given name as a middle name. People were really good about the name change. It was strange even for me to call her by her new name at first, but I think the more people heard it, the more it stuck. Good luck!