We spent some time with both of our families around Christmas, and enjoyed lots of yummy food, good conversation and special gifts. It is good to be back home too as traveling with a little one can be quite exhausting.
The new year brings with it an opportunity for fresh starts, and for our family a few celebrations! Dan's birthday was on the 1st, and our anniversary is today. As we celebrate being married for two years, we looked back on the last year. The main event was Lydia's birth. She has changed our lives in tremendous ways, and it is hard to imagine our lives without her. Having her in our family has added many challenges and a few limitations, but the joy she brings to our home surpasses the trials.
In this new year Dan and I want to be more intentional about displaying the biblical virtue of hospitality. Now that we have a home of our own and a table that can seat more than four people, we want to make a conscious effort to be welcoming to those around us. There are some risks involved with hospitality, and for me they have often become road blocks. What if Lydia cries the whole time? What if I overcook the meat? What if the conversation doesn't flow well? What if our company has a hard time finding our house? These really are quite trivial things, so I plan to cast them aside in this new year!
It was hard to choose what pictures to include from our eventful few weeks. Enjoy!
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| Trying some apple slices in her teether. A baby mouth can only hold so much, Lydia! |
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| Sweet smiles from her high chair. |
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| She's a pretty heavy load for her cousin Dylan! |
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| Loving the wrapping paper. |
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| Auntie Sara checking out Lydia's toes! |
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| Cuddles with Grandma Hanenburg! |
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Buddies
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| Bonding with Auntie Abby. |
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| One of Lydia's favorite activities... |
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| "Cousin" Avery! |
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| She was not in the mood for that ball at the time, but she loves it now! |
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| Playing with Grandma Hofland! |
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| Checking out the shades with Auntie Carrie :) |
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| Bonding with her Illinois Aunt. |
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| Books from Tom and Karlene! Yay! |
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She loves her present from Opa and Oma!
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| Uncle Derek and Uncle John! |
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| Spending some time with Great-grandma Hofland. |
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| The newest addition to the Vander Wilt family: Lily! |
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| All the great-grands at Opa and Oma's house! |
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| Avery loves Oma's high chair. |
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| Malachi wasn't feeling too good... |
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| The cats drank all the water out of the heated water bowl, so this is the most logical thing to do after that :) |
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| They pick the skinniest tree on the whole yard to play in... |
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| Play time! |
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| Lydia loves Oma's little chair :) |
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| Avery and Lydia bonding. |
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| ... and playing. |
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