funny conversations

Last week at Myla's school they had a bucket full of bones for the kids for the kids to explore. Myla was very interested in all the bones and where on the body they belong. Last night we were on the couch talking and she asked "is this a bone" pointing to the tip of her nose. I said "no bone there, but you have a bones up here on the bridge of your nose". Myla then asked "can people walk on the bridge".

Lance and I were laughing pretty hard.

Van's 1 Birthday

Van's 1 birthday

Bang-ditties

Myla got a hair cut and went swiming with the help of her bang-ditties

Myla swimming labor day weekend

the ending of summer time fun in duluth

The kids and I have been enjoying the beautiful weather here in Duluth this week. We had lots of friends over for an end of summer BBQ and then spent 2 days at the beach this week. We are gearing up for a fun Labor day weekend and then 1 more week till My starts preschool.

Myla turned 3 post # 1

we always sing happy birthday and she gets her first present for the day when she wakes up!

My good friend Laura gave us tickets to bring Myla to the Beauty and the Beast play in town. Auntie KK took Myla to the play, but before Uncle T and Auntie KK went to the toy store to pick out a b-day gift. SHe just loves her new umbrella

The day before Myla's birthday ( I tend to celebrate birthdays for a week) Myla, Van and I went down to the beach. It was perfect weather to play in the sands and put our feet in the water. We also got to witness a boat go under the bridge, it was Van's first time.

an almost 3 yr old and A messy 10 month old

Myla is almost 3, wow it seems very hard to believe that only 3 years ago I was sitting here beggin to be done with being pregnant. Now I have a beautiful girl, that is growing up and becoming such an independent child.

We took Myla's friends Connor out to ice cream to celebrate his 3rd birthday.

And Van boy-well he loves to eat and recently became a fan of smoothies. I had taken the lid off the cup but forgot to take the cup away from Van. This is what happened in about 1 minute.

doulaing

As some of you know I have started my process of becoming a doula!!

Doula-is an assistant who provides various forms of non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in the childbirth process. Based on a particular doula's training and background, the doula may offer support during prenatal care, during childbirth and/or during the postpartum period. A birth doula provides support during labor.

I am very excited to assist Mom and Dad's in having rewarding, amazing and loving births. I was lucky enough to have 2 awesome birth experiences. I came out a stronger woman after the births of Myla and Van. Not to mention how good I physically felt just hours after birthing the babes. I had thought about becoming a Doula since I had Myla. My friend Jessica's birth of her second child help to spur the final push needed. I had assisted Jessica and Eddie in some pre labor work and just loved helping them talk about the upcoming birth. An out of town trip and an early babe made it not possible for me to help Jessica and Eddie during the actual birth of their super precious little girl Piper.

But that experience got me excited and ready to begin the training. So I just signed for a Doula training next weekend. I then need to attend 3 births and take care of other paperwork stuff. So if you know if anyone in need of a doula, please let me know. jodi

living easy this summer

Summer time in Duluth, I love it and absorb it every chance I get. I easily remember the coldness of Winter and embrace all the heat. So most days Myla and I spend the morning in the backyard. Playing in her sandbox, taking care of the gardens and our raspberry bushes or pick up trash on our block. Our neighbors Jo and Kylie, who is 18 months often join us. Myla is definitely aware she is older than Kylie and tends to be pretty bossy with her. But I am excited to see their friendship grow and can imagine them playing together peacefully someday.

We get out often going to the reservoir, the canal, throwing rocks in Lake Superior and playing with friends. We have pulled out our outdoor fire pit and have had smores a couple times. Myla of course loves those special nights. Summer is fun and we are definitely enjoying it.

Myla, Van and I spent last week at my friend Jill's cabin in Nisswa area. We had so much meeting her 3 month old daughter Auna and getting out of the city for a few days. We had a fun time doing the "local" thing in Nissaw. The late morning before we left Jill got the boat out and took us for a nice relaxing ride around the lake. By the end of the 45 minute ride all 3 were sleeping.

an over due update

It has been too long since I have last posted. We have been busy enjoying the outdoor and chasing after Myla and Van. Please click on the link below to views a bunch of pictures we have taken over the last 2 weeks.

http://picasaweb.google.com/thevoelkers4/BeinningOfJune2009#

2 videos of Van crawling and talking

a year of ECFE

The first pictures is September 11, 2008 on our way to ECFE for our first class, Van is still livin in my belly at this point. The second picture if This past Thursday, the last day of class for Myla. Next year will bring a whole new adventure as Myla will be attending preschool 3 afternoons a week. Ohh how they grow.

a photo session

We had a awesome photographer take some family and kid photos 2 weeks ago. They turned out pretty wonderful and it is fun to see our family captured in photos. Follow the link to view them.
http://lmpreciousdesigns.zenfolio.com/m-v-may-2009

our new backyard

Lance and I have lived at this house for the past 7 years. Ever since we moved in I begged Lance to put in a tall fence in the backyard, ( we have some "interesting" neighbors). So finally last year we put it in and loved all the seclusion it provided.

This years mission was a sanbox for the kids. After discussing and researching we picked out the needed material. 3- 4x10 and some screws. On a sidenote, while at Menards loading the material we overestimated the give of a windshield and cracked it. We both felt pretty stupid to think we could have gotten it in there, but hey we have insurance and had a new windshield the next day.

We built the sandbox in about 1 hour, it is 5 x 10 and is holding 1 truck load of sand!! Myla loves it and plays in it whenever we are outside. It can accomidate 6 kids and still have lots of room to move around. So the sanbox arrival required more fencing in the back and we have gotten that done over the past 2 weeks. Lance's Mom was up for a visit and to help with yard work and relieving a brick sidewalk in our backyard.

Van's better than ever feet

The first picture is of Van's feet after birth and the next picture is his beautiful feet today!

Van's casts were removed last Thursday. Dr. Gordon was very pleased with how they looked and worked. We were given the good news that we were done with casts for a few years and will now get Van's braces. Those words felt so good and were such a relief. This is the moment we have been waiting for since we first found out about Van's clubbed feet when I was just 22 weeks pregnant.

I have been reflecting a lot about all that Van has gone through in his short life thus far. 3 surgeries, 15 sets of casts, 2 nights at a hospital and and lots of dr. visits. The amazing aspect of this is Van's wonderful attitude throughout everything. He has figured out how to sit up, rollover and crawl with castys on. He is an amazing boy and I am so excited to watch him continue on his journey, growing and healing.

The 1 pic is of his new braces that he received today. Van will have to wear them for 18 hours a day, which majority of that will be sleep time. We believe he will be required to wear the braces for nighttime for the next 2-3 years. He does not seem to bothered by them so far, hopefully that continues. The other 2 pics are Van at the Dr. office last Thursday with free feet.

The next pic is of his new air Jordan shoes!! Dr. Gordan told us to get him some high tops, to help strengthen and support his ankle. Well after trying on about 15 pairs of shoes-the ones that fit and were cute were these stylin shoes.

I also want to thank everyone for all of the love, support, prayers and positive energy sent our way other the last year. It was amazing to feel all of our friends and family holding us through all of Van's journey. I am now just waiting to see our little man walk...

slideshow of pictures

We have all had a busy week, with alot of pictures taken. So I put together this little slideshow of some memories in the making.

Crawling

Early this evening Sarina, Brittany and I were visiting in the living room with Van. All of a sudden we all watched as he figured out how to crawl forward!!!!!! We continued to watch for the next 10 minutes, dangling keys in front of his face to coerce him into more movement. Now all evening he was experimenting with his new freedom. And all of this movement is with the casts! Wow- babies are amazing and resilient. I will try and capture some video soon.

uPdaTe

All is good here in the Voelker household. We are all grateful that Springtime has come to Duluth. Myla and I seem to spend every morning we are home out back playing in the yard. She loves it outside; swinging, playing in the sandbox or helping Mom with yard work. Van usually sleeps for the majority of the morning, but usually gets out for a little while before lunch. Van is so mesmerized by the outdoors, he looks around and enjoys all the new sounds. We also have a swing for each of the kids set up in back and both love spending time swinging away.

Enjoy the video! Van was finding it hilarious to watchhis Sister blow bubbles. This went on for 20 minutes or so.

Pictures

Easter 2009 and Van's casts.