Picture day: October 19 - 30

People say that babyhood goes by too fast...

So everyday I do my best to cherish these moments. I pinch myself, because I know that they won't last forever.

Arabella changes so much from month to month. I only notice the changes when I look at her older photos or videos. Even two weeks makes a big difference sometimes. 

As tired and exhausted as we are these days, I really think these are the absolute best days of our lives. There's no question. 

Spending time with Belle is like heaven on earth, and we make a point to never take it for granted. 

Everyday we remind ourselves that we're looking into the eyes of a miracle 😍

She's such a fantastic model. And she knows just how to pose for mom and dad, too 😊

I love her big ears. I love her toothless smile. There's nothing that I don't love about her - and there's nothing I wouldn't do for her, either.

I never knew that a love for a child could run so deep. It's more intense than any kind of love I've ever felt. It's a love that's extraordinarily blissful, and somewhat frightening at the same time.

As parents, we're affected by every single struggle that faces our child. Her problems are our problems. 

But there's also a point where parents have to let go, too. It's for our own mental health, because we can't possibly control everything. And overwhelming yourself won't necessarily do you, or your child any good.

These are just one of the lessons we're learning.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's easy for parents to get lost in all the potential issues that face our children. 

In our case, Arabella's eating issues take a toll on us sometimes. And as much as we'd like to completely shut-off the worries, it's almost impossible.

Unfortunately, Belle hasn't been growing very well since September, and it's looking like she'll eventually require a gastrostomy tube, also known as a "g-tube" (a tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach).

That's as far as she'll let you go...and she'll only chew on the nipple, at best. 

Arabella wants nothing to do with food or eating, and everything we try continues to fail. 

Belle's been throwing up a lot more over the last few months too, so we've had to feed her lots of mini-meals during the day (in hopes that she can digest the smaller portions faster). 

Her reflux has hit an all-time high...

Night-time feeds are continuing to be a big challenge for us, but we try to remain up-beat and positive. After all, we have a lot to celebrate, don't we?

I laugh every time I look at this picture. Belle did NOT enjoy her first time on the swing. Her face is absolutely priceless.

I'm pretty sure she liked the slide, though 😁

Through thick and thin, I love our little family. There's nothing we can't possibly overcome...

And although we sometimes face turbulent moments, we'll always look back at this time and say, "Man, those were the good old days, weren't they?"

These are the people and moments I live for...and I thank God for them every single day 💗