I have a brother in Kentucky?

The blue-eyed monkey and the dark-eyed cow (see the shirts?)

Okay, so they aren't really brothers, but that is what we call them. It just doesn't seem real to see these two little miracle babies together. Jenny and I struggled a lot of years together to get these guys here, and they came just 7.5 weeks apart! Jenny moved from Ann Arbor to Kentucky about 8 months ago. Jack and I just went to visit them in their beautiful new home. For the most part Jack and Alex didn't really seem to notice each other, but we tried to get them to play together. Like his parents, Alex is tall and lean. Unfortunately for Jack, he also inherited his parents genes and is already short and round (actually, he isn't short for his age, but he looks short next to Alex). The picture below really sums up the difference between these two handsome bundles of joy.

Guess whose thigh is whose?

Friends!

Two hands are better than one

Binky boys

Curious Alex

Me and my helmet

Following our doctor's advice, we had Jack fitted for a helmet. This handy device is reshaping his head. U of M describes how the helmet works: "If you put one of our helmets on a deformed head, it will grow into the void area near where the flatness is, and then take the shape of the outer shell. The helmet does not apply any force on the head, but allows the skull to grow within the pre-shaped helmet." We didn't exactly think his head was "deformed", but the back of his head was pretty flat--due in part to him lying on his back (his refusal to be on his stomach and his ability to sleep for 12+ hours a night definitely played a part), and also due to his cone head that never resolved itself. Lucky for us, he doesn't mind it at all. He doesn't complain when we put it on or take it off. It is really a simple device and it has already done it's job. His head looks nice and round. The doctor says that as soon as we get the okay from the orthotist we can take it off. I think I'll miss it. He looks awfully cute in it and it certainly brings out the color of his bright blue eyes.

It took us a while to figure out what his helmet reminded us of, but Chad put his finger on it. He looks like one of those old-fashioned football players with the leather helmets! We've also told people that he is a race car driver, hockey player or construction worker.

The thinker

Asleep during General Conference. Look familiar to anyone? Russ?

I love reaching for EVERYTHING

Me and my Daddy the day I got my helmet

Texas--yeehaw!!!

Jack and Grandma Janet. Everyone now, "awww....."

Chad was invited to a attend a conference at UT in late March. If there is one thing I've learned from growing up a Bice it is that you should tag along on business trips as often as possible! So Jack and I flew to Houston a few days before Chad's conference ended and then Chad joined us after taking the short flight from Austin to Houston. I guess it wasn't a true tag-along, but Chad's flight was free so I considered it a half-price trip.

The weather in Houston was truly glorious! A perfect 75 degrees or so most of the time we were there. Jack loved being outside. More than that, he loved all the attention from Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Holly, Uncle Neil and Aunt Meredith. It was so much fun to be there with everyone. Jack even got to see his great-grandma Fitt and a bunch of his second cousins. I wanted to take advantage of the weather and go on a nice long run (I've been working out on my elliptical, but this was my first run outside in a few months). I felt great while I was running, and for a few hours after returning from my 4-mile jog, but later in the afternoon I really started to feel sick. I went to bed and tried to sleep but couldn't. A few hours later I finally threw up. I think I was dehydrated for the first time in my life! I'm just not use to all that Houston humidity. I really learned my lesson.

One of the most enjoyable parts of our trip was going to The Woodlands to spend a night with Neil and Meredith at their new apartment. It is such a cute place and Neil and Meredith are so much fun to be with. Meredith, Chad, Jack and I spent some time at the amazing mall that is very close to Neil and Meredith's apartment. Unfortunately for Neil, he was at work and missed the fun. He did join us for some amazing Mexican food for lunch. If I had to pick one thing that I miss most living in Michigan (besides sunshine) it would be Mexican food. We try to get our fill every time we are in Texas or Utah, or anywhere besides Michigan!

We also had a lot of fun playing the Wii that Chad brought with him. Holly may be a stellar tennis player in "real" life, but at least I can hold my own against her in the virtual world. I also enjoyed beating Steven at the matching game--I don't think I've ever seen him truly frustrated, but he didn't like losing! It was great ;-) Surely one of very few games I could ever win against him, or most of the Larson family.

Meredith, Janet and I also had a "Jane Austen night." We watched "Persuasion," which I had never seen. It was so nice just to hang out and enjoy being with family. Thankfully, Jack was his usual pleasant self and seemed to adjust to a new place and a new time zone fairly well. But when he is tired, he is tired! That boy loves his sleep. I've tried to keep him up a little later at night so that he isn't in bed at 6:45 or 7:00 but he'll have none of it.

Thanks to Janet and Steven for making our trip such a memorable one.

Holly, Neil and Meredith chilling on the couch

Steven and Chad by the grill (of course)--that chicken was DELICIOUS!

Holly climbed the backyard tree to relive her childhood

Jack relaxing in a chair at the Pottery Barn Kids store in the mall--I think he should model for the catalog and they could pay me in merchandise.

Spring Break with no spring

Well, I couldn't believe it either, but Holly (Chad's youngest sister) wanted to come and spend her spring break with us in Ann Arbor. While her friends frolicked in places like Mexico and Italy, she got to experience practically every season imaginable during her one week in Michigan. When she arrived it was typical Ann Arbor weather for March (and must of the rest of the year): overcast. A few days later, however, it was a perfect 75 degrees! We took advantage and walked around downtown. There were people EVERYWHERE trying to enjoy the weather. It was the first nice day we could remember having in months! Holly thought it was pretty funny when an SUV full of college guys rolled down their windows and drove wildly down the streets yelling "This is a glorious day!" Just goes to show you how desperate we are for good weather--it even gets the frat boys excited.

Just the next day, things took a turn for the worst. It started with rain, but eventually it turned to snow. Holly was actually excited to see snow for the first time in her life! So excited, in fact, that she and Chad tried to go sledding. It didn't work. While there was snow on the ground, there was far from enough for sledding. They still had fun and accomplished the most important task--taking super cute pictures of Jack.

It was SO nice to have Holly here. She is certainly mature well beyong her 16 years, while still maintaing all the good things about being 16. She and I went shopping one day and man, that girl can shop! I've never seen anyone get so excited about clothes. It even got me excited. I can usually only take about one store, but she has major stamina. It was really fun. My friend Jenny was visiting at the same time and Holly was very patient as she spent a number of days helping watch Jack and Jenny's boy Alex as Jenny and I did a much needed cleaning of my basement. Chad and I commented a number of times that having Holly around was like having a nanny--a very cute and responsible one who really cares about Jack. We hope she comes again.

Jack the man

Jack and Dad in the snow

Holly's first real snow

Jack and his very cute Aunt Holly