Desperate Housewives: Grand Rapids

This weekend Isla and I were constructively evicted from THE Dorm due to a bachelor party being hosted by Greg & Dave. We decided to escape to the WEST SIDE to hang out with some of our favorite people. We spent our first night with the DeKorne girls. After we put the little ones down, Heidi and I ordered carry out, drank margaritas and were finally able to watch "He's Just Not That Into You." Lord knows we would have never won the battle for a chick flick if the fellas were around. After consuming some Oreo Cakesters, we hit the sack.

The next morning began Desperate Housewives: Grand Rapids. We got the girls ready in their cute bathing suits and headed out to the Railside Country Club to meet Dana. We "pooled" for a while with the Vanders (including Lia and Baby Molly - Isla's birthday buddy), then ate lunch poolside. After we retired from "the Club," Brooke napped and Dana and I went to get manis and pedis. Once we returned home, the Doctor took us to dinner at Kobe where we enjoyed some Japanese fare. I toured the up and coming Casa de VanderLaan to see where my guest quarters will be in the fall. After the tour, we went "downtown" and got ice cream. We turned in at about 10:30 p.m. to get our beauty sleep. The next morning Matt made pancakes while Dana burned sausage. We had our 1st breakfast around 8:30 a.m. then headed to Al & Nancy's for brunch. I tasted smokey links for the first time and enjoyed coffee on the screened in porch. Ahhhh the life of a Kent County wife. Stay tuned for the next episode of Desperate Housewives: Grand Rapids (and hopefully I won't forget my camera)!

Daddy's Girls

It was Dave's 1st Father's Day and my Dad's 30th Father's Day. Isla was lucky enough to be able to spend the day with both of them, but missed her Grandpa Joe. Isla took her first cruise on Poppy's boat and passed out from the relaxation. It's good to be a Daddy's girl.

For the Kids

After a two week hiatus, we are back.  My apologies to everyone who hasn't seen pictures of Isla for a while.  Rest assured, she is still cute as ever and growing bigger everyday.  Isla got to meet her cousin Elijah and all her Borowicz aunties.  She enjoyed an awesome party that her Grandma Jan threw her.  As usual, the McNett girls put together an amazing gift for Isla!  They are truly the sweetest and most creative people I've ever met.  

Henna is enjoying her new summer look.  After spending 4 1/2 in the doggie day spa, Henna came out looking more spry and less hairy than ever.  

This was a big weekend for us.  On Saturday we took Isla to the bowling alley for the first time so she could attend the Second Chance at Life Bowlarama.  Consequently, she also had her first exposure to Second Hand Smoke.  On Sunday, we were at the Townsend for Yatooma's Foundation for the Kids event.  Dave was nice enough to watch Isla and her cousin Sophia at the same time so I could go down to the event and eat dinner.  He managed pretty well with a seven week old and a seven month old.  Dave maintains the title of best babysitter and was awarded with the most expensive chicken fingers and fries he's ever eaten.

Meet the Cousin

Sure

 everyone loves babies, but there are few people who love babies as much as my Aunt Linda.  To celebrate the birth of each new baby (which is quite a few these days) Aunt Linda hosts the "meet the cousin" party.  Even though we didn't find out whether we were having a boy or a girl, Aunt Linda maintained her perfect record by predicting it would be a girl.  To solidify her prediction "Guess Who" purchased a dress & pink shoes for the baby shower.  Well, her record is still perfect & the dress fits Isla perfectly. 

The cousins also thought that they would have a contest to see who weighs the most.  Brooke won the contest

 as she gloated about being "so big."  At least she's teaching Isla the moves.

Firsts

I know my blog has been plagued with a lot of "firsts" lately.  Hopefully its not too annoying because I don't see it stopping anytime soon.  

Isla is fortunate enough to live in THE Dorm.  Its a complicated but unique living situation in which one single Chaldean (let's call him Uncle Greg) asked his best friend who married his favorite cousin (let's call the couple Dave & Christina) to move into his house.  Dave and Christina brought along their dog, Henna, and Christina's sister (let's call her Wuzzle) to make things even more exciting.  Add several flat panel TV's, multiple gaming systems and a basketball hoop in the living room and you have "THE Dorm."  

We have several traditions here at THE Dorm.  Among them are Saturday morning breakfasts, Sunday night popcorn, and Costco.  About 70% of the items in THE Dorm have been purchased from Costco.  Isla took her first trip there last Sunday morning in lieu of going to church (because we were running about an hour late).  Uncle Greg really enjoyed pushing Isla in her stroller.  It was tougher to clarify to people that this was his "niece" not his daughter, but they both gained positive attention.   

Also this week, Isla took her first trip to Bebe & Poppy's.  Everyone else had Chinese food while she enjoyed the best milk money can't buy.  Poppy took her on the boat and she enjoyed lots of fresh air.  I hoped that the fresh air would help her sleep well that night, but no such luck.

Henna turned 12 on May 22.  For those of you who are better at math than I am, that means she is 84 years old in dog years.  Henna's only birthday wish was to live long enough to be a big sister (which she accomplished) and to gain better control of her bowels so that she would not be evicted from THE Dorm (also a success).  So Happy Birthday Henna!  You have brought us much joy for many years.  The Lord knew you were the perfect dog for us and we count precious each day you are with us.

Splish Splash

Isla had her first bath.  She didn't cry the whole time, which gives me hope that she may enjoy baths in the future.  She did start crying pretty furiously at the end.  Fortunately, super Dad wrapped her up quickly in her towel and calmed her down... and then she started sucking her thumb.  

Sleep Deprived

...that is for us anyway, Isla is all set.  Our little coconut has decided that night time sleep is really not for her.  Isla feels that the middle of the night is an extra special time to spend with us as she has our full attention.  Trying to get her into a "routine" is a bit of a challenge, but hopefully she will fall into some sort of a routine soon.  As far as sleeping during the day is concerned, she is awesome at it.  Everyone keeps telling me to "nap when the baby naps," but does anyone really do that?