Will I love him as much as my dog?

Unbelievably, I asked my mother this very question when I was pregnant with my first child, Andrew. At that time I had a dog that I loved very much...a springer spaniel named Rodeo.

Me and Rodeo at my apartment in Orlando-circa 1993.

As I recall, my mom didn't even glance up from what she was doing. Her response was immediate, "Jill" she said, "you won't even remember you have a dog."

I chuckle when I recall this story. I get an even bigger kick when I see young, carefree couples who have pets (and treat them as their children)...because I know as soon as they have their first child, they will probably ask the same question I did when Andrew was born.

"Dog? What dog?"

Well, for me my mother's words were very true. As much as I loved Rodeo, my affection and adoration for my son made everything else seem trivial.

When I was expecting my second child, I again asked my mother what now seems like an even more absurd question....but at the time was so pressing!

"How can I possibly love this child as much as I love Andrew?"

I will never forget her answer. She said, "Jill, you don't need to cut the pie into pieces.

You just get another pie."

Indeed. She was right again. Another pie....and now a third pie! I'm a lucky girl.

My mom had four kids, and none disabled.

She can't give advice on what it feels like to have a child like Nate.

But I can.

Now... I don't know about any of you, but there is a different kind of love goin' on in my life these days...and I'm not saying it is greater or better than my pies, I'm just trying to say it's different.

I have had two "typical" children of my own. I have two delicious pies.

As a blended family and sharing equal custody, I am lucky enough to be a (step)-mom to a third delightful pie.

Hey, I know pies of all kinds.

And now we have Natie...and here's what I can tell you...

I can't get enough...I mean to say....I can't keep my hands off this kid. I still cry with over-flowing adoration when I put him to bed sometimes. I want to bury my face in his neck and smooch his soft skin as often as I can get away with it! His face and his expressions send me over the moon. When he learns something new I want to jump up and down and tell the neighbors.

I don't ever want to set him down; I want to give him the entire world; I never want to let him go.

He is the apple of my eye, the end of the rainbow and a never-ending source of bubbling-over delight.

He is rivers of joy.

So I have come to this conclusion; when Nate was born, I did NOT get another pie.

I got a triple-decker-oozing -with -decadent- fudgey- cream-and -covered-in cherries-and-dripping in marshmallows-yummy-to-overflowing- chocolate cake