Wordless Wednesday: Malu's Home

American Samoa (We were up in the mountains somewhere--I'm ashamed that I can't remember the name)

Salamasina Rose

Well, todays' 4D ultrasound confirmed that the little peanut is indeed 100% GIRL. When the technician told me this, my response was, "Oh my gosh! Hi five! It's a girl!" and I started giggling, almost hysterically, as she reluctantly gave me a hi five. Coincidentally, the technician, who was extremely sweet, happens to be the wife of an officer in my brigade. Great. She's probably going to tell him that I'm a raving lunatic, but whatever. Now I know for sure and this means.......THAT I CAN FINALLY GO SHOPPING!

Anyway, she was being shy while the tech tried to take pictures of her. She didn't seem to want to take her face out of the placenta and when she did, she held her arms/hands up like a boxer. It would have been better to get this ultrasound a little further along (and I still don't know exactly how far along I am). Her features would have been more prominent. But I got the answer I was looking for and I'm sure I'll be scheduling another one in a few months or so. Oh, and the nurse from the post hospital left me a message saying that she has the results of the ultrasound I got the other day. She has a due date for me and I can call her tomorrow! Sorry about not having any pics of the whole ordeal. I'm having trouble opening the photos on the CD they gave me.

So...Salamasina. It's pronounced SAH-LAH-MAH-SEE-NAH. This is the little peanut's name. Malu picked it out a long time ago when we were randomly thinking about baby names. I know you're all thinking great, another name we can't pronounce. I know my mom was thinking that when I told her. My dad? He loves it. After all, it's a Samoan name and it's so appropriate considering she is three-quarters Samoan (and the rest, Filipino).

It's also appropriate considering where the name comes from. Malu told me that the literal meaning of it translates into "Moon Slayer" which I think is kinda cool (it has a Twilight, kinda Vampire feel about it. I like Twilight.). But Salamasina was the legendary Queen of Samoa (pictured above)--Queen of Upolu and Savai'i (the islands that make up the independent state of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, where my dad and Malu's mom are from) and of the Tutuila Islands (that make up American Samoa--obviously, a U.S. Territory, where Malu grew up). These islands are presently two separate entities, but were united under Queen Salamasina's rule, I believe, in the 15th/16th century. Legends say that she was kind and fair and is known for striving to ensure peace for all. As a matter of fact, during her 40 years as the queen, there were no wars and the people of Samoa prospered.

Furthermore, Queen Salamasina was a descendant of the King of Tonga (on her mother's side) and of the High Chiefs of Samoa and Fiji (on her father's side). Samoa's latest King, Malietoa Tanumafili II (who died in 2007), was a descendant of Queen Salamasina. And here's the other cool thing...Malu's grandmother, Grandma Lema (as we call her) is a direct descendant of King Malietoa. No joke. So obviously, I'm quick to say that our little peanut could probably be considered a princess. Of course she is. All baby girls are princesses.

And so she shall be called Salamasina. I hope that she turns out to be just as kind, serene, and as influential as Samoa's legendary, beloved queen. Salamasina Rose--Rose in honor of my sister, Rosalynn, who deserves her own blog entry, which I'll save for another day. Now I'm off to email Malu to let him know that he's truly having his little princess after all. My bad, his tom-boy princess :)

Late Wordless Wednesday...Beautiful Samoa