What's in a name?

I want to take a minute to talk about many things on the brain, starting with my son.

His name is J Taylor Gavin. If you haven't met him, he is a gem. My personal joy! He really is an amazing little man. But, that's not the point of this post. His name has alot to do with the kind of person we want him to be:


J....
This is the middle name of both his Dad, and his grandpa. It's all debatable as to who really started this whole "one letter for a name business", but lucky us, it didn't stop here. At first this was all a joke, becuase Chris wanted a "Junior". Now, I wasn't super into the name Chris (no offense--it's a great name! I guess just not wacky enough for us), so I thought of alternatives, which obviously led to J. I randomly made a fly-by comment (that was not so fly-by to Chris), which apparntly was never forgotten: "If it's a boy, why not name him J?" Anyway, history made its claim when our little boy was born, and he was named J.

I actually couldn't think of a better name for him. He really owns that Big Capital J. And to be named after any other person, but his Dad, would be a shame. He truly is his fathers son. I know that every father loves every child, but there is something magical about the way my husband looks at this child, and likewise. When I was pregnant with J, I would be fast asleep, and when Chris would walk into the room, the baby would start doing olympic worhty gymnastics. He was elated whenever the papa was around... His love for his father has only heightened since he was born. The moment that child entered this world, he was his Daddy's boy, through and through. There have been times that I have almost felt as if I were entruding on something sacred when I stumble upon them having "a moment", whether they be asleep intangled in eachothers arms, playing together on the floor, or walking alone together on the beach. Like I said, it's magical...

TAYLOR....
It's actually, again, a family tradition! Most of my brothers have my mothers maiden name (Chapman). I've always loved that! If you think about it, all kids carry on their fathers name through sharing their last name. I loved it that my brothers carry on my moms name through their middle name. So, I always assumed that I would just give all my sons the middle name Taylor (my maiden name) to take with them forever and ever. That was an easy one.

I love my family so very much. Each and every one of my siblings mean the world to me. I am everything that I, by what I have learned through my family. I'm grateful for all of them, and even more grateful for my parents sacrafice, and willingness to have a large family. I have really started to appreciate that more and more the older I get and realize what that really means to me. I hope to raise a family like the one my parents did, where we always knew we were loved. No matter what. Then more importantly, where that love was given back---we loved eachother. We truly are all very bonded to eachother. What a greater lesson in life, then one of love? True love.


GAVIN...
My inspiration for the post tonight. We cellebrated Gavin David Link's birthday recently with friends and family alike. We all sat around and chatted up with great memories of Gavin. Gavin will always mean so much to our little family. In life he taught us how to not judge others. How to see the good, and only the good. Gavin wore rose colored glasses, because he only saw the wonderful in life. He really grasped life. Really. I wish that I could borrow those Gavin colored glasses some time; my life would be a happier place... I hope that my words can truly captivate the feelings and love that Chris and I have for him---feelings we hope to pass on to our little J Taylor Gavin. To explain this, I have to tell a story about our little man...

J was in no way of a hurry to get down to earth. He was born 3 full weeks late, after 33 hours of intense labor. I thought the child would never get here. But, in hindsight, he arrived precisely on time--not a second too late. To make a very long story short, J was born simply hours (HOURS!) before Gavin's funeral. This broke my heart in one aspect, because I wanted to be there so bad. I wanted to honor him, pay my respects, and say my goodbyes. But, it simply wasn't possible. I almost think that I'm the lucky one, because in my head, Gavin is still off in some foreign place, galavanting, exploring, and sharing his life with all he comes into contact with. Chris however, left our little hospital room, where there was this brand new life just starting for our little J, to attend Gav's funeral, that would mark the end of a life well lived. I can not ever fully express the impact this had on my dear sweet husband. After he returned to me, he tried for hours to fully express the words that could capture the emotional, deep impact that had on him...

Through Gavin, we were able to see the plan of salvation right there. Physically. We live, and we die. What a precious gift we were given. I think J knew that if he came "on time", there was no way he was going to meet sweet "Unkie" in enough time. Time was against him at this point. So, instead of coming when I darn well wanted him to, he waited. He waited until he could give one last bear hug, one last high five to our Unkie. I will always wonder what precious words were passed from one boy to the next. What would one say to the other passing by? Who knows. But we know (JUST KNOW!!) that Gavin didn't miss out on that experience, and for that I will forever be grateful. We feel like our little J was very much placed from one set of comforting arms to ours. My heart thanks Gavin daily for the safe delivery of our little J. It was a little pit stop on his way up to Laie, before everyone else said goodbye...

Nortons and Links, thank you for sharing your Unkie with us!

I love the names my son has. Love love it. Whenever I think of his many names, I don't get excited because I put some random letters together that sound great with eachother, but I love it because I actually get to sit back and take in all that it means. What's in a name?? There's sure a lot for this one. And J, I hope you always remember these names and what they mean to us... For they are special, and so are you. I wouldn't have it any other way.

My love to you, my little J Taylor Gavin.