A month in Review

Lydia in her skunk costume! Little stinker :)
Ponderosa Sunday...

Kaitlin's Birthday Party.

Trip to the zoo.

Lydia and her friend Olivia.

Things are good on the home front. Lots of exciting things have happened in October. It really is one of my favorite months of the year.

Some things I love about October:

• My birthday :)


• Cooler weather but not too cold


• Changing of the leaves
  
• Fall Break
  
• Dressing up Lydia in ridiculous costumes


• and this year our church's first annual Ponderosa Day.

We are continuing to eat healthy and it is really a lot of fun. We've given up soda completely unless we go out to eat. The only rule is Renato and I have to be together to drink it. I thought I would get headaches or something but not so much! Also continuing with our breakfast shakes....

milk, milk, and more milk!

Many of you have known the issues we've had with Lydia...she would not take a bottle or drink anything other than water out of her sippy. Since I will be out of town in a couple weeks I decided it was time to try and remedy that. She loves yogurt so I started mixing it with whole milk the other day. We started out small and she loved it. We are down to me nursing one time a day...woo hoo. My baby is growing up....

Everyone has a story...and here's mine!

In Sunday School there has been a lot of talk about evangelism and sharing our testimonies. While sitting there listening to our teacher share his heart it occurred to me that even some of my closest friends do not even know my testimony! How crazy is that that I know their birthdays by heart, their children, where they honeymooned.....but I dont know one of the most exciting things.....how they became a Christian. So I wanted to share my story for anyone who is interested :)

I grew up in a non-Christian home. We never went to church and never really thought about it actually. I remember in fourth grade when we were taking the TCAP test that I marked Christian when I was asked what my religion was. That is what all my friends wrote so why shouldn't I? While playing softball I met my good friend Rachel (who I still Love :)) and I started attending youth group with her when I was in 6th grade. It was a very small youth group and I made some really close friendships with 4 girls. Well while I attended youth group, joined the church, prayed in front of everyone, it still didn't make me a Christian. While in highschool I switched to a bigger youth group and the same things happened. I played the role of a perfect youth grouper by never missing...while still not knowing the Lord!

I went away to college and had a blast. It was a small private college where everyone knew everyone. I became involved in a program called Campus Outreach. That summer I decided to go to summer beach project. It was 10 weeks staying in a roach motel in Panama City, working at waffle house, all while learning how to love the Lord and about relationship evangelism. I can't really tell anyone a time or a date of when I was saved, but it was that summer that my life changed. I truly believed, talked with the Lord, and wanted to have a relationship with him. It was then that I started praying and reading his word BEHIND closed doors.

I think about my testimony and realizes it doesn't stop there. I have had a lot of struggles in my Christian walk. I have often questioned whether I really do know the Lord or if I am still following the motions. But I say that to say I love the Lord, want to live my life for HIM, want to raise my daughter fr Him, want my marriage to glorify him, and really just want to be able to trust him. So I know that I am a Christian and that one day I will be with him....and it excited me just to think about it.

I hope my story wasn't to boring....it certainly was life changing for me and I am blessed to have a story to tell. I pray that Lydia has a story to tell!

weddings....

I just love weddings! Tonight we went to Kelly Jo and Ezra's wedding. I've known Kelly a long time and have often wondered what kind of man Kelly would married....and now I know. Ezra! But it got me thinking at the wedding....marriage is so beautiful when it is used in the right manner. The Lord has given us this gift and it never ceases to amaze me to see his handiwork carried out. Well anyway...congrats Kelly and Ezra! I'll post a picture of you two when I steal one from Rachel!

What's been going on!

Wow I haven't update in forever! I guess life gets busier when you have a munchkin running around.....or I should say crawling! Just give a little bit of some updates and that's all for today...but I am going to try to do better.

1. Lydia is crawling, standing up, has 5 teeth, and the biggest attitude of the house! Mama was her first word and Renato works with her everyday on learning to say Papai (Portuguese for daddy). She has mastered the art of shaking her head no and still looks cute doing it.

2. Renato is working hard and still having lots of fun teaching tennis. We have booked our flights to Brazil and he is really excited! He hasn't seen his mom since March of 2006 so I know he is glad for that. He is also excited about surfing! This will be Lydia's first trip to see her vova (grammy) and he cant wait to show her off.

3. Stephanie is having fun staying at home with Lydia. I have taken a job teaching older 3 year olds at a mothers day out here in Chattanooga. I love it and it is only 2 days a week from 9-2. Lydia is adjusting to the new schedule plus she loves her teacher- her Aunt Shannon :)

A for all the Mizutani's we are starting to eat healthier. We are taking it slow and I am trying to do a few new things each week. Last week I was inspired by Keri ( our Pastors lovely wife) to puree foods and sneak them in. My favorite recipe so far is called Deceptively Delicious! I've make the chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes. I actually got my husband to eat cauliflower and like it...hehe. We are also eating organic yogurt, pure maple syrup, whole wheat pasta. I'd eventually like to switch to brown rice but Renato has been eating white rice his entire life and this switch might be a little tougher.

I am sure there is lots more but I will end it with that. Oh and I am excited about fall, weddings, Brazil, and all the babies that will be here before we know it!

I will update soon...I promise :)

Staying at home.

I quit my job on Friday. I am happy and sad about it. I loved working with the children but I also love seeing Lydia grow. I know it is for the best....but I will miss my kids and coworkers. I am going to be keeping a 7 month old in my house twice a week. It will be fun especially since Renato will be home as well! It will be a nice little source of income...plus I love the hours :)

Things in the Mizutani family are well. We are busy planning a trip to Brazil in the fall. I hope we are able to go. I really want Lydia to meet her grandmother and also be comfortable with Brazil. We are going sometime soon to Atlanta to register her with the consulate so she will be a Brazilian citizen as well as American. I am jealous she will have 2 passports :)

Renato has been sick and I feel so bad for him. He loves to work...but when he is sick it is tough to do. I am hoping he gets better soon!!!!

Lydia has a new girl cousin!

Moana Karen was born on January 19th in Japan! I can't wait for these two to meet and get into trouble together :) Hopefully we will be able to make a trip to Japan sometime. I miss Nara (Renato's sister).

Jumparoo!!!

I set up Lydia's jumparoo that Ned (Renato's boss) got us. I will say it was quite a hit.

Enough clothes until she is three!

Whe one of my sisters friends asked if I wanted to come look at her daughters old clothes that she had I immediatly got excited! She has had three daughter and has accumulated quite the wardrobe for them. Lydia and I ventured over to her house on Monday and spent hours going through bins and bins of clothes. Well today was the day I organized them. It only took me 3 hours! But I am happy to say I will not have to purchase very many clothes for Lydia for a good while. It will be hard as I love to shop and I love clothes....but I am trying to be good and stick to our budget! Here are some before and after pics.

The Simple Life

In our Sunday School class our teacher has been talking about living the simple life. Do we really NEED to get new clothes all the time....do we really NEED an up to date car? Shouldn't our money and resources go to the glory of God and not for our pride and comfort? Renato and I have been thinking and talking about the way we live our lives. We would really like to say we have been wise with our resources but in truth we waste a lot. One of our goals is to live life more simple and use our resources for the Glory of God and not for the Glory of ourselves.

Two months already????

I cannot believe my little girl is two months old today....Craziness!!!! She is growing like a weed. On Wednesdays I have been going to a breastfeeding support group. I recommend it to anyone who is nursing or planning on nursing. They let you go and weigh your baby and find out how much she is actually eating! Lydia weighs over 12lbs and is eating almost 6 oz. She is definitely healthy :)

Today was her two month physical and shots. She is in the 75percentile for her weight, length, and head size. She has grown 2 3/4 inches since she was born. She got3 shots and 1 oral medicine. Renato came with me because I thought I would be a big cry baby. I actually was fine! She screamed....and screamed...and screamed. As soon as I got her calmed down she was out like a light! Poor baby.....

On a side note have I ever told anyone what a GREAT husband I have. He is so thoughtful and I am falling more and more in love with him. We have definitely learned a lot about each other since we have had Lydia. I guess that is what happens when you are sleep deprived :) Even though it has been tough...the Lord has given me the perfect man for me. How comforting it is to know the Lord picked him for me....picked us to be Lydia's parents...etc. Knowing the Lord has his hand in everything gives me great comfort...PRAISE THE LORD! I am praying that Lydia will one day have that comforting knowledge as well...

I jusT need to get this thing started :)

Okay so a lot of my friends have blogs and I have always thought "what a great idea" but have never followed through. Now I am going to start.

Well for those of you who don't know Renato and I had our daughter on November 20, 2008. Since I was past my due date (she just was too comfy :)) Dr. Brody said we needed to induce. He also told me before we picked the day that I had a good chance of a c-section because my pelvic bone was extremely small. I told him I wanted to do everything I could to have a vaginal delivery. Well, we got up at 3 am....made it to the hospital at 4.....and began the induction at 4:30. Little did I know I had already started contracting and was already in labor :) After 14 hours I was finally ready to push. Dr. Brody came and we got to work. Well after 2 hours she would not come. We did find out pretty fast that we would have to invest in some hair bows :) Since she continued to be difficult (she is a Mizutani!) I ended up having a c-section. Atleast the next babe will come out on time I guess.

Life with a baby is fabulous!!!!! Renato is a great daddy and has helped a lot. I thought I would instantly be in love with Lydia when she was born. I did love her and wanted to do everything I could for her but I was not "in love" with her. After a few weeks at home my bond with her grew and grew. At first I felt guilty for not feeling bonded with her the day she was born. Now she is an essential part of my life. My heart is bursting with love and I am totally in love with her.

Well I will post some pictures and begin updating on a regular basis. I am a nerd and enjoy the computer :) Now it is off to work on our taxes and see how much we owe Uncle SAM :(