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.