I LOVE being pregnant!

Two weeks ago we had our ultrasound appointment. We saw the tiny toes and knees, the elbows and little fingers, the spine, stomach, umbilical cord, eye, pointy little nose and smiling mouth (Yes "fefe" really was smiling)

WHAT A MIRACLE!

Every little movement I feel, or movement we get to watch together, we are just amazed at what is happening inside. It's a little baby, OUR little baby.

We can't wait til Dec 1st (or earlier possibly as the ultrasound shows) to find out whether our little miracle is a boy or a girl. LOVE BIG SURPRISES!!!

Here I am today, just about to start my 25th week!! ALmost mid-way through Month #6!

a mini catch you up...

Wow...it's been awhile.

We have been busy moving out of our Gualo Rai house and into a new house up by NMC College. It is ALOT closer to the school for Jake. Once December 1st comes/BABY VAN DAM I will no longer be working at Gold's Gym but will instead stay home with my baby!

Today, as I write this brief update, I am officially starting my 23rd week of pregnancy and feeling GREAT and very healthy!

Jake is gearing up for school to start on Monday with the new school year. There are 4 new teachers for the school year and Jake is very happy and excited to be going back to work and a job that he loves.

His sister Beth will be moving out here sometime later in August to work at a public school close to the new house, AND she will also be living with us. We are both very happy and excited to have some blood family here with us! It'll make home even a bit more like home!

=)

God is good!

Love,

the Van Dams

Baby Van Dam

As many of you may already know, Jake and I are expecting our very first baby in December.
We are so excited and can't wait to be parents.
I know Jake is going to be make an awesome, loving, fun and protective Father and cannot wait til baby is here to watch!
So far I am in the middle of my 16th week. We have had several ultrasounds and appointments and we are in the clear, everything looks good!

Here I am on Sunday, 16 weeks preggo!

Outfit #1

Out fit #2 - Felt much better in this outfit!
:)

Bali 2011

In May, Jake and I went on vacation for about 10 days to Bali, Indonesia. We left with another couple, some of our closest friends here in Saipan. We spent 9 days in Bali and the rest of the time travelling. It was an unforgettable, most amazing trip we have ever taken. Loved every minute of it and the pictures will tell...

Easter

It's officially Easter weekend and yet it doesn't feel like Easter at all for some reason.

Jake walked up Mt. Topachau yesterday with some good friends. I didn't go because I wasn't feeling well and also very tired, maybe that's part of it. We have early morning sunrise service tomorrow for Easter Sunday and then several invites for Easter Sunday dinners.

Maybe it's because I've been working all week and Saturday and am used to taking that time off.

Maybe it's because I know family will be getting together for Easter dinner and that's another one to miss out on.

hmmm...maybe it's because I feel like I'm not living in reality right now. There are some unreal things happening to us.

Jake and I are are going to have a baby. WOW.

It's crazy. We are super excited! and super scared - but who isn't really?!!? It's not like it's some little thing -IT'S HUGE!!! A baby?!?! Come December 1st?!!??

WOW - I have no words really - I'm ecstatic, thrilled, shaking, haven't fully realized it yet, because all it feels like so far is I got the stomach flu and am tired.

:)

Anyways, we wanted to share our exciting news...we are finishing up on Month #2! Going on 3!!! Only alot more to go!! HAHA :)
Jake and I are feeling pretty good. Things will change a bit for us, luckily our house is perfect with an extra room and yard - so we're happy about that.

Well,

Happy Easter!
Love you all!

Love & Blessings,

Jake and Jackie

life lately

Gorgeous George is about 5 weeks old in the picture on the left, and about 8 weeks old in the picture on the right. He's growing like crazy!

George again at 8 weeks old in these two pictures. Him and Bella get along great and spend most of their time together play fighting or having a tug-o-war over a toy.

On to other Van Dam family members.

Tim and Jana are set to arrive in Saipan late this Friday night/early this Saturday morning. They'll get to see Jackie and I team up to complete the Xterra race on Saturday morning. We'll all hang around together on Saipan till Monday morning when they leave for Australia for a week. Pretty exciting stuff. I think dad has wanted to go to Australia for quite a while now. Then they'll be back on Saipan for a few more days before heading back to the states.

Pray for safety for mom and dad as they travel and that we'll have a good time together here in Saipan. Also, both Jackie and I had pretty bad crashes during the race last year, and we would definitely appreciate a prayer for safety in this year's race.

love,

Jake and Jackie

Jake here

So I don't know if anyone reads this anymore. If not I can't say that I blame you. (if I truly believed that no one reads it anymore I guess I wouldn't have written that sentence... or this one) I honestly wasn't even sure if Jackie still updated. I guess we're both more facebookers than bloggers.

In any case, I need to post this just to say that my sisters are amazing people. There are a number of reasons for this sentiment, most of which I'm going to keep to myself. But the thing that convinces me most of their amazing-ness has to do with the people they've become.

Why didn't I already know that they are amazing people? you might ask. Let me explain.

First of all, I think I have only just discovered who my sisters are. Again, that might sound a bit peculiar. My sisters and I did grow up together. What I mean is that I don't think I had any idea the type of people that my sisters have grown up to be until the past 6sih months. I clearly remember my/our childhood and I regret that much of it was spent arguing, fighting, teasing, and basically just not getting along. Many friends of my sisters and I were similarly aged and got along famously. Not so for the Van Dam kids. To be honest, it was mostly... ok ok I'll actually be honest here, it was all my fault. Any fighting we did can be traced directly to me. I can't say for certain what my problem was back then. I think I was very envious of the relationship my sisters had with each other. But I don't know why that would cause me to instigate so much discord. My behavior and jealously prevented me from getting to know my sisters and who they actually were.

Second, I have been apart from my sisters for the majority of the time since they were 16 and 13. Having been away at college and now even further away in Saipan has robbed me of being near to my sisters when the person they have become was being molded. I definitely didn't and still don't make near enough effort to stay in touch with them while being away. Again, my fault.

Now for the reason why I think they are amazing.

Beth and Becca, you have become your own person. I don't mean in a congratulations type of way. That might infer that I have become my own person, which I'm not sure that I have. I mean like, Holy crap! My sisters are really stinking awesome people and I had no idea till now! I love people who are their own person. These people are who they are. They don't apologize for it. They don't try to hide in a crowd or put on an act. You both are all of these things and so much more. You both are unique and wonderful people.

I have to admit that I'm still jealous. Not as much for the relationship that you have with each other. (Though I'm still a little jealous about that) I'm more jealous of the people that get to be your friends, that get to spend time with you, that get to see you often. Those are the things I want. I'm sorry for not realizing all of this earlier. Please know that I'm a big fan of you both.

Love,

Jake