As a tired new mother I knew it was coming--the hungry cry in the night from my newborn, not all that happy about being awake either. I would grab her quickly and nurse her, my only goal to have us both sleeping again soon. Then as I held her in the rocking chair and she cuddled into my arms, content, I found I was not ready to let go. I rocked and I watched her breathe rhythmically in the almost complete darkness. I looked at every feature and smiled with my heart fully awake. I was a MOTHER!