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)