It's such a joy to be a mommy. Holding my baby girl is such precious moments for me and I never used the word "precious" before Nia was born. Until you hold your child in your arms, you cannot possibly understand the preciousness of having a child. While I love animals and I might even take a bullet for my dog(s) of current and past, it is not even comparable to having my baby girl in my arms and watching her grow and learn new things and make silly faces. When Nia is nursing, she occasionally pauses and looks up at me with a great big grin. She enjoys drinking so much that she can be a bit noisy at times in responding to how yummy it tastes. It is amazing how God created our bodies to make new life and even sustain and nourish this new life after it is born. When Nia wakes up from sleeping, she makes "baby talk". Sometimes I'm not sure if she is talking just to hear her own voice ("wow, I can make noise!") or if she is playing with a toy. She will coo at new faces and squeal for joy when given face to face time and when others talk to her. She is only 4 months old and already she is so interested in the world. Having a child isn't for everyone and in no way to I believe everyone should make raising children a goal in life. However, I would like to make a clear distinction between having a pet and having a child. Having a child is literally a lifetime of caring for a growing human, long after she turns 18. I will watch Nia grow up, maybe get married one day, have heart break, experience great joys, and eventually one of us will watch the other move on from this life. Parenthood is a unique and amazing thing filled with emotion that no other experience can imitate. I love my doggies, but that love is nothing like the love I have for my baby girl. She is growing up so quickly. I hope my family and friends take seriously their role in her life as even one month without seeing her is like forever in baby-development days.