More Big News

(This is a re-post. We had to take it down after originally posting because Lee's transfer had not been officially announced to his group at Exxon. So, a heads up to those reading it for a second time; it's still the same information.)

We Fithians will soon be able to call ourselves....Ft Worthians? Ft Worthites? Metroplexicans? I don't know what they call themselves up there, but we'll be one of them.

ExxonMobil has transferred Lee to Ft Worth, and we have about 1-2 months to get ready for a move. So exciting! 2012 is going to be a year of big changes for us...the biggest one is that I will probably have to become organized to keep everything straight.

We're really going to miss everything we have here in Spring; especially grandmas within 40 minute drives and friendships that we have developed over the past 5 years. Well, there are also things we won't miss, like our next door neighbor's dog. But that situation really could be worse than it is.

So, we're looking forward to something new. Good times.

Good effort, poor execution

So, I'm sitting in my closet putting on shoes when Kara runs in and tells me she has to go potty. Mind you, we still haven't started potty training. So, I tell her thank you for telling me, and she runs off and I hear a splash.

I jump up, and find her fully clothed with her bottom in the toilet, hanging on to the rim with all she's got.

She seemed uncomfortable, but not terribly distressed. So I ran and got the camera.

Plus One

As a couple of sweet friends (Janet & Guy) told us....it isn't official until it's virtual. So, here is the official announcement:

We are pregnant!

We went to our first Ob/Gyn appointment today, and everything looks normal. The baby is 8 weeks along, normal size, and normal heart rate. It looks just like Kara did at that age. Imagine that! It was truly exciting to see the little bean just resting there, and the doctor had very few comments. We find less is better.

I have been feeling tired and nauseated for the past couple of weeks, but I think that is starting to pass. Lee has been so great about taking care of the house, and Kara has become very good at telling Mommy to "Wake UP!" each time I close my eyes to rest. Which happens more than I would like, but hopefully I'll keep feeling better, and we can get back to our routines.

We have told Kara that Mommy is growing a baby. This news has had little effect on Kara other than her excitement each morning when she takes her pretend prenatal vitamin (an M&M) with me. Or sometimes she will point to her own tummy and say "Kara baby, grow!" Obviously, there's a little confusion, but we're working on that.

Thank you for your prayers during this time. The first trimester can always be a little scary. We'll keep updating the blog as things progress.

Here are a couple of close-ups of the new addition!

The Fithian Exchange System

Today Kara refused to help clean her room after destroying it during "nap" time. So I told her she could pay me to clean it or she could help me. She chose the payment...and I chose Blue Bear and her favorite blanket.

Once she realized what she had done and was completely devastated, she was more open to helping. I tried to explain that when we pay someone we have to give away something we like for something we like more. And if she wanted her things back, I accepted vacuuming as a fair trade.

So here she is vacuuming her room with Daddy. It looks great now!

In the end we were all happy, but Daddy was a little spent from trying to teach a 2 year old to vacuum...apparently it's not easy.

What kept me up tonight

It's late, or really early, depending on how you look at it. And this is one of the few times that I have had something on my mind that has kept me from sleeping.

Since the beginning of November, I have been reading lots of online updates and posts from different people about Thankfulness. Some of them are fairly obvious, like the weather is awesome or God gave me wonderful kids, but in general I feel I struggle to be truly thankful for the things God gave us. I find that in my heart I really do love to complain and dispute, the very thing God tells us not to do. I find myself perturbed when things don't go my way or anxious when things are out of my control.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 -- Give thanks in ALL circumstances...; Ephesians 5:20 -- Giving thanks always and for everything...; the list of Bible verses tugging on my heart to be thankful is really long. So, as this seems pretty important to God to teach us, it must be a lesson worth putting effort into.

Furthermore, how do I teach Kara about true thankfulness when I'm only thankful for the obvious good things? Reminding her to say "tank tou" when someone gives her candy isn't going to cut it. But learning to depend on God's sovereignty and praise Him for His grace are heart changes that should happen in myself before I can pass them on to her.

So, here is a small list of thanks for things I'm usually not thankful for...

1. For waking me up in the middle of the night to think about things that are good

2. For giving me the ability to care for dogs who need daily exercise and attention

3. For giving me the opportunities (several) to train up my child in discipline and righteousness

4. For giving me the chance to serve my family through daily chores of cleaning and cooking

5. For giving me the circumstances that made me seek God, even if those circumstances still exist

6. For creating me with a personality that primarily values authenticity in relationships

7. For moments of teaching when I can admit my lack of control over this world

8. For the opportunities to show Kara how much I love her starting as early in the day as she lets me

9. For giving me a husband who is deliberate and wise about not rushing into decisions

10. For seasonal allergies (I can't think of a nice way to put this)

Where did she learn that?

One of the most repeated phrases in our house is, "Where did she learn that?" Seriously. Kara is picking up words, ideas, and phrases that I don't remember teaching her. She is a little baby sponge. For instance...

I thought we could start working on letter recognition. We'd start with 'A'. Apparently she already learned some letters because later in the day she pointed out 'O' and 'T'. Where did she learn that?

We went to the park where some kids were playing soccer. She has never been interested in ball sports so I haven't bothered to encourage it. However, when Kara saw the other kids she screamed "soccer" and started kicking the balls. Where did she learn that?

Kara fell down the other day and bumped her knee. I haven't kissed her injuries, but she came to me crying and asking "knee...kiss".

Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but I'm a stay-at-home mom, and most of Kara's life is spent in my presence. It amazes me how quickly she will pick up on things and how she will suddenly recall something that happened days prior. Just another reminder that we need to stay on our toes. This kid is watching everything.

It's Autumn!

This week Kara has been learning about Autumn. She has been collecting dead leaves and acorns from the front yard, helping me make apple sauce, and playing fetch with cinnamon sticks. I'm not a fan of the last one, but Kara and Kermit think it's a great game.

We are also learning about pumpkins. Today, we went to Aunt Amber's house in College Station where we picked out pumpkins and decorated them.

Carson quickly realized pumpkins are heavy.

She's starting to look like a kid. What happened to our baby?

Kara and Carson decorating their pumpkins. A very happy mess of paint and glue.

Kara's pumpkin. The one-eyed booger.

We finished our visit with a jump on the trampoline. This day was too much fun to wear clothes!

Sharing the Potty

Potty excitement has hit the Fithian house! We're not potty training yet, but Kara is very good at telling us when she has pooped...mainly because she loves flushing it down the toilet. It's the little things that make her happy.

Our neighbor gave us a toddler training potty. Kara doesn't care to sit on it for long, but she will put her dolls and stuffed animals on it. Yesterday was Barbie's turn.

I walked into the bathroom, and Kara had a miniature Barbie doll sitting in the toilet (yes, "in the toilet," not "on the toilet"), and I asked Kara if Barbie was going peepee or poop. Kara said poop because that is her favorite. I told her that was nice, and as I was walking away, Kara turned to me excitedly and yelled, "BIG POOP!"

And there you have it. Barbie makes big poop. We never knew that. Don't worry, Barbie, everybody does it.

By the way, I promise to limit the number of potty entries, even though they are definitely some of the funnier stories that we have.

I want, I want!

Kara has mastered the phrase, "I want _________." Just fill in the blank. She wants cars, she wants Dada, she wants babies, she REALLY wants cookies.

On one hand, I'm excited that she has begun to use sentences. I also love that she verbalizes her desires. On the other hand, she has learned to repeat herself. So we will hear the same sentence about 20 times in a row unless we are able to fulfill that "want" immediately.

So much fun, right?

Lee and I are working on trying to find this funny because this behavior is honestly kind of annoying. And I've heard it just gets worse.

31 Years

A very happy 31st birthday to Lee! And yes, he does feel older. And yes, we put his candle in meatloaf.

Kara blew out the candle a few more times after Lee.

Family Camp

During my summers in college, I worked for a Christian camp called Pine Cove. Specifically, the family camp. This is where I was first encouraged to boldly live out my faith, and this is also where I began to learn that not every family is severely dysfunctional. In fact, they can be quite functional and intentional about glorifying the Lord. I loved observing and serving these families, and I hoped that I could one day go back as a camper.

Well, Lee and I had a kid, so off to family camp we went! Pine Cove, Week 9!

It was incredible! We loved it!

There is so much about Pine Cove that is completely awesome, but the craziest part is how the Holy Spirit is evident in everything that is going on. We watched callous and broken hearts change and heal over the course of the week, we saw a child with severe anxiety disorders open up and and become bold and outgoing, we were given clarity and peace over some of the questions and struggles we had been facing for a long time, Kara stopped freaking out when she had to go into a nursery setting (which is a major working of the Spirit). The counselors prayed over us before we came and with us during the week. We were pushed to move forward in our personal walks with the Lord, and encouraged to pour His love and model His grace in our family.

That is all the important stuff that happened at camp, but most of you have not been to Pine Cove and may think I am describing a Spartan camp out in tents, sitting around a fire and going on Spirit quests. My sister's exact comment, "I don't get it, do you just sit around on tire swings all day?"

Uh, no. Pine Cove is quite nice. We stayed in a motel-style room (A/C included), and we had delicious meals (not your average camp food). There were speaker sessions for the adults to attend during the week, and the kiddos went to their age appropriate programs. Kara was in the baby room/nursery where they played, sang songs, went swimming, took pony rides, and other fun baby things. They even kept the kids during naps so we could have some free time. During that time we had tons of fun activities to choose from like horseback riding, water rockets/skiing, paintball, zip lines, skeet shooting, arts and crafts, chilling out at the coffee house, swimming, bike rides, fishing, etc. If you couldn't find something enjoyable to do, you weren't trying. Lee and I did some of those activities, but we also rested and read our books.

The counselors at Pine Cove are amazing, not only because they spend their summer running around in 100 degree weather, sleeping in tiny bunks, and getting meager pay. But they serve with a holy dependence and joyfulness that is uncommon anywhere else. They provide rest for us, but they also provide an example of sacrifice and devotion.

Kara also loved Pine Cove. She thought it was fun to jump around with the counselors and do the cheers, she was fairly obsessed with watching the fish in the lake, and if there was a stage she was on it babbling into the microphone or dancing. By the end of the week she began to prefer the counselors to us which may have been my favorite part. There is something so special about seeing someone caring for your child with such love yet setting boundaries for them so they can feel secure. This means my kid had a great time and didn't become a crazy, whiny monster. Makes a mommy's heart smile.

OK. Picture time.

Kara playing on the top bunk bed.

Super hero theme night. We dressed up as Mario Bros. characters. Luigi, Mario, and Princess Peach. I got a hug from a little kid who thought I was really Mario. She was disappointed when I took off the mustache.

Kara wanted to wear a mustache too.

Playing on stage.

Kung-Pow theme night. Please note Lee's socks and sandals...if you can look past his awesome Kimono.

Master of baby kung fu. When she wears the outfit she goes around the house kicking the air and saying "yah!"

Hanging out in the coffee house during our free time.

New BFF Avery (8 year old). She and Kara would run off together.

Playing on the stage again. This time she found a microphone.

Carnival night. Kara got her face painted and went on the hayride while Lee played knock-out.

You can see the painted flower on Kara's cheek.

Lee playing knock-out...looking mighty fine with his backwards hat. It really does make him look younger.

Kara going off on her own. This picture is mainly to show you how pretty the camp is.

Pine Cove was fun!

Portlandia

We are done with plane travel for a long time. Lee, Kara, and I are still recovering from our recent trip to Portland, OR for cousin Kim's wedding.

People told us that babies sleep on planes. No. No, no, no, no, no. They're wrong. Kara took the four hour plane ride to mean four hours of non-stop attention seeking, jumping, kicking, and playing. By the end of the ride, Lee and I were spent. Luckily, we sat next to wonderfully understanding passengers who also took turns entertaining our little monkey.

Even with all of the attention, I can't say Kara enjoyed the plane ride. Five minutes into it she was telling us "all done". This was repeated at least fifty more times throughout the flight.

But four hours of crazy to get out of Houston in the middle of summer isn't too bad. The temperature in Portland was in the 60's, and Kara got to meet her northern Fithian cousins for the first time. Here's a picture of the entire group outside of the Wet Dog Cafe. This is Lee's dad's side of the family.

We had quite a few little ones to watch after. Between jumping out of windows, sneaking out of hotel rooms (Kara and Riley learned to open doors), and keeping them from running in the street we had our hands full.

Kara is very excited about her coloring.

The boys in back are planning their escape.

Connor and Ben doing what boys do...throwing giant rocks.

Kara decided to walk into the river fully clothed.

Owen is doing his drum solo on the restaurant mirror.

The wedding was beautiful, and we had a wonderful time at the reception. The kids danced until exhaustion set in and fits were thrown. Kim was a stunning bride, and she was such a gracious host to all of us. Her husband Chris is so fortunate to have her.

We didn't get any good pictures of the bride and groom. So here is a picture of a picture!

Kara and Riley going to the reception together.

Kara is dancing with Papo.

Who is going to get B's fancy necklace?

Trouble.

Like I mentioned. We were pretty tired after this trip. Here is Kara the day we left.

PJ Day

Ahhhh, I am refreshed and ready to go again!

I have been craving a day without responsibility for some time, so yesterday we had a PJ day at the Fithian house. We didn't do much of anything. We wore mismatching pajamas, we cooked veggies from our garden, and we watched Harry Potter movies. The most notable event was when Lee and Kara went to check the mail. Totally low key.

Since using up our produce was a big part of the day, I wanted to show you a picture of our fruit and veggies. The eggplant, yellow tomatoes, and bell pepper came from our backyard. I'm really proud of our little garden this year. Lee has done a great job of keeping the weeds out, and Kara likes to water the plants. The other produce in the picture came from farms where they let you pick your own veggies and fruit. My grandparents picked the peaches and red tomatoes, but I picked the blueberries myself.

Suffice it to say, we had our five servings yesterday. So we were lazy, but in a healthy way.

Such a good dad!

Here's a big high five to my husband for his second Father's Day!

Lee really stepped up this past year. He led us well, he was a constant encouragement to me, and he became Kara's best friend. She asks for him about 20 times each day, and she gets so excited when he comes home.

We celebrated by playing frisbee golf after church.

Kara did my putting.

Hiking down the fairway.

Pretty nice form!

Daddy and Kara taking a chocolate milk break in the shade.

Happy Anniversay to Us!

Big news! Lee and I have been married for 4 years!

That honestly doesn't seem like enough time. Only 4 years? So much has happened...house, dogs, baby, new family members, losing family members, waves of spiritual growth and indifference, jobs, graduations. You can pack a lot of stuff into 4 years.

But next year will be quite the milestone. It's time to take out that 5 year plan that we made before we were married, and see how we're shaping up. I'm sure a few goals have changed due to circumstance or priorities, but I have a feeling that most of our general goals will still hold true. We won't know until we are able to find it. Four years is also plenty of time to lose stuff...

The May Series

This past month. So crazy. Fun. But crazy.

A lot has happened, and there are a ton of pictures to share.

We're going to back track a little, and hopefully we'll get back to the present day by the end of the week through a series of posts. For those who have asked us to post more often (shout out to Janet Mery!) this should satisfy for a while.

Starting off, on Mother's Day weekend we took a King family vacation to the San Antonio Hyatt Hill Country Resort and Sea World. We loved it!

The resort was incredibly kid friendly. In fact, I was surprised by the number of families with infants. Kara and Carson had fun playing together and with the grandparents. We went swimming, we roasted marshmallows, we didn't take naps...it was great.

One thing Lee and I noted about the resort, is that people say funny things when they don't think anyone is listening. Of course we wrote these down to share with everyone. Fair warning, hotel rooms are NOT soundproof, and some random person will share your comments in their blog. Here is what we overheard:

• "She's touching my peanuts!"
• "You guard my billfold and my teeth with your life. I can always get a new cell phone."
• "I'm a burrito!"
• "That's right! Mommy makes peepee too!"
• "Are you high again?"

And here are some pictures:

For the other part of our trip, Sea World, I can't say enough about how awesome that place is! They have an entire play area devoted to little kids. My parents took Kara and Carson to it while the rest of us rode the roller coasters. Actually, my sister went to the kiddie park as well because she isn't allowed on the rides in her fragile condition (third trimester preggers!). Anyways, we played hard in the morning, and just as it was getting hot we went to some shows and exhibits.

Playing at the kiddie park:

Kara's bathing suit matched the trainer's costume from one of the shows. They stopped us and asked if we wanted to take a picture and pet the sea lion. How lucky that we packed that bathing suit! And yes, the sea lion is smiling.

And a few more....