The truth is, I am an extremely scatterbrained, somewhat forgetful person. I've written before about this blog being a way to remember things for myself, but also for my posterity. I just don't want to worry that someday when I'm gone, my kids and grand kids [etc] won't realize how much personal love, thought and work went into raising and knowing them. I want to be ever present, and a main character in the stories they tell about their lives. I want the ones about me and my kids to be full of laughter, rolled eyes and fist bumps of respect bc I was that kind of a fun, loving, committed, Mom/Grandma etc. I don't want to be like the ring Galadriel is talking about when she says ""And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge." [Yes, I just quoted Lord of The Rings. Cue eye roll or fist bump depending on your likes and dislikes.]

So, to get back on topic, Isla-this is the story of how we picked your name. It wasn't random, or us just seeing a street sign and saying 'Sounds good!' It was purposeful and loved and it suited you from the day you were born. Its not a particularly exciting story, but it is yours and it is important, just like you are. So when you grow up and people say what an unusual name you have, here is the start to your story.

Your Dad and I felt that you were beginning to make your presence known-in little ways, like extra hard tugs on the heart strings when I'd get a whiff of that new baby smell, or seeing how Daddy could no longer hold your sister in 'the football hold' which made him a little nostalgic, or noticing how much Addy needed a playmate. But before we committed to you, we wanted to be sure we were ready. So we went to the temple to pray about you, among other things. Both me and your Dad got separate feelings of assurance that it was up to us-when we were ready to receive you, you would be ready to come. So we talked about it, and decided that very soon, we would be trying to get ready for you. We didn't know that at this time you were already one your way and that we were pregnant with you-even then, your spirit and independent personality were there. This is one of the millions of things we love about you.


Once we did know you were headed our direction, we referred back to the list of the names we liked for girls when your sister was born. Shortly after this, we threw that list away. Because even then, you were none of those names and we could feel it. But every time we came up with something, it just didn't feel right. So months came and went, and you were left nameless.

Finally, one day we were sitting outside Lola's and Lolo's house getting ready to pick up some things for you, as you were set to come in about a month and half [although you shortened that timeline as well haha..]. I still remember that we were talking passively about one my favorite classic movies-Casa Blanca. And we mentioned the main character girl's name-Ilsa. Mid sentence, your Daddy and I both looked at each other and knew we were headed in the right direction. Ilsa is brave and selfless and beautiful. All things which we hope for you. Still, we felt like we were close, but the name still didn't suit you somehow. It was a beautiful name, but it didn't have specific meaning to us or your heritage. Disney had also recently come out with Frozen and we thought it sounded too similar to Elsa, which we liked, but we were sure would be over used in the next few years. Then we started talking about our heritage.

On both your Mom and Dad's sides, we are island people. Your Grandpa Hanaike's family comes from the beautiful island's of Hawaii, as well as the Philippines-which is also where your Lolo and Lola's family come from. Some of your Grandma Hanaike's family also comes from England-another, very different, wonderful kind of an island. You come from pioneer stock-people who have embraced and created change for the better, be it physical change in coming to America or other places, or religious change, which can often be hard as you are venturing to believe something that might be new or unpopular, but still true and worth it. Your family is strong, and warm and loving, and smart and it covers islands all over different parts of the world-and all of these things are connected in you. You are an island containing all of these virtues-a person and place that people will want to come visit when they are looking for comfort, love and rejuvenation of heart and mind. This is why we named you Isla.

Your middle name is especially dear to our heart as well. As you know, your Mother loves the written word-particularly Jane Austen's written words. She was a smart, independent women also who did things in her own time and own way and is world renowned for her efforts. Her books are timeless classics. But you weren't named for this Jane-the inspiration for your name came more from her character in Pride & Prejudice. Jane Bennett weathers every storm selflessly, and is the kind of compassionate, kind, patient, sweet and loving person we hope you will always aspire to be. People always look to Elizabeth as being the hero of the story-and while I love her as well, one of my favorites has always been sweet Jane because she is the kind of person that makes everyone around her better. I hope you will be this kind of a Jane-and I have a feeling you will.

The day you arrived, we knew in the back of our heads that if we saw you and it didn't suit you, we would have to change it. Yet still, we didn't come up with a back up because we just felt it was you-and we were right. You were warm, and soft, and sweet and to put it plainly-you were the Isla Jane we already knew and loved. And you still are, to this day.