Step by Step

Feeling that he isn't getting enough respect, Mark takes up karate, and when he gets kicked out of class he turns to Cody, who has a black belt, for help training for the big tournament. On tournament day, Mark faces the best person; he falls behind in the beginning, but Cody sees his weaknesses and Mark comes back and ties the match. He ends up losing the match, but he has won the respect of everyone except the teacher who had kicked him out. He challenges Cody and is beaten badly. Meanwhile, Frank installs an intercom to deal with the constant fighting in the Lambert home, but he takes it down when it wakes everyone up in the middle of the night.

When J.T. is sent his first credit card. Frank doesn't think he can handle the responsibility, and a spending spree soon proves this. Dana is unhappy about going to a local public college and her first English essay is a disaster.

Cody hopes to expand his "coolness" when he joins a fraternity ... but then learns one of the dudes has tried to go a little too far with Karen.

Frank gives Carol the silent treatment when she beats him out for a coveted sports announcer position at the local radio station.

Putting an antenna on his van, Cody is struck by lightning and gets amnesia. Homecominq-Queen candidate Karen must date a nerd to get his tie-breaking vote.

Cody grows a gigantic pumpkin for Halloween. Mark is interested in a girl at school and asks her to the Lamberts' party.

Carol and Frank are shocked when she thinks she's pregnant. Al has her first real date and asks her siblings for help. Dana and her study group get a C for a philosophy test for which Cody manages an A.

Frank and Carol announce to the family that they're going to have a baby, and the kids are underwhelmed and are not happy. To improve their attitude, Carol insists that they all go to family therapy.

Cody's old friend has come to town; when Frank and Carol decide to build a new room for the baby, the children all want their own rooms.

Al has a new boyfriend, Zack, who has just moved into the area. His anti-establishment views on life upset Frank and he stops her from going on a date with him. Suddenly, Dana finds out that she is allergic to Cody.

Frank and Carol go away for a romantic weekend. Frank is worried that Carol is going overboard about the baby. Mark has a computer date. The girls have a bonding session, answering quizzes and talking about their fantasy man.

It's Christmas time and JT feels that he can going skiing with his mates now that he is 18. However, the trip doesn't quite go as expected. Bad-tempered Aunt Edna comes for a visit, much to Frank and the children's displeasure.

JT has borrowed a Porsche from work and impresses a waitress. He lies and says that it is his and, using money he finds, he buys her an expensive necklace. Frank is reluctant to go with Carol to the gynaecologist for her ultrasound.

Cody starts directing a movie with the kids as actors but forgets to write a script first. Dana begins dating a 36-year-old man but it doesn't quite go as she planned after meeting his friends. Carol starts eating weird food combinations.

Mark's girlfriend Gabrielle comes to spend the weekend. JT gives Mark advice and the girls give Gabrielle advice, and they break up. Cody gets them back together. Frank gives Carol hints about what he wants for his birthday.

Al pressures JT to help her learn to drive. JT suggests the driving lesson take place in Frank's new truck. It comes back with a huge dent in the side, and the two scrambling to cover up what happened.

As Carol's pregnancy progresses, the family help with the chores but don't come up to her standards. When Dana and Cody are made history tutors for struggling students, it's Cody's approach that works with them.

The family suspects the reason behind J.T.'s chronic poor scholastic performance may be because he's dyslexic.

Cody is trying to reduce his use of the word dude and he enlists the help of Dana. Frank doesn't tell Carol that he is putting in a bedroom window for one of his old girlfriends. Carol is upset when she finds out.

Cody starts sleepwalking, which takes him back to his childhood. Dana is incredulous that J.T. got an A+ and she only got a B, until overhears their professor talking about him.. Frank tries to put together a barbecue grill.

After JT makes fun of Karen for wearing a pregnancy pad, he and Frank are dared to wear the pads for a weekend. Cody takes Brendan to see his favorite player Kenny Barton but is unable to get his signature without paying $50.

Al is offered a trip to Disneyland but needs $500. JT comes up the idea of babysitting many kids at once but they are overwhelmed. Frank makes Cody the foreman but the responsibility doesn't sit well. Karen's prom tries Carol's patience.

Dana is taking Karen to a college party and Al talks Dana into taking her. Karen becomes jealous when the college Casanova is attracted to Al and not her. Carol is having a sale of Frank's old junk, and he does his best to keep it.

Carol goes into labour and the family head for the hospital, except for the Foster children who were forgotten. Carol wants a natural birth without drugs but changes her mind when she feels the pain. Lilly Foster-Lambert is born healthy.