Diana Perez P2 I used to hate my niece. Well actually, I hated my niece before I even knew if I'd have a niece or nephew. I hated her because she'd be yet another thing to take my brother away. I grew up with my brother, and he was my favorite and I was his. When he was 18 he joined the army. We got to see him or talk to him, which I had taken very hard. I tributed him by painting my walls green and decorating my room with camo. In November 2009, he had come home for a visit. With him he had brought a wife, and later, news of a pregnancy. They had waited to tell me last. I was outside with my friends, when my dad had called me in for the night. All the older ones in my family were downstairs just hanging out. I went down, too, because they didn't mind when I was around. I sat down in my usual place, right next to my brother. His wife actually got up and moved so I could sit, which I said "Thank you" to but would have had an attitude if she hadn't moved. Everyone around me was hiding their smiles. My brother had put the TV on mute and turned to me. He said "Monster, we have some very big news." He was smiling, so I was smiling too, expecting something wonderful. Then he said "Rebecca's pregnant." My smile quickly disappeared. I just got up and walk upstairs, went to my room, and cried. I went back downstairs, even with tears streaming down my face and asked "Are you joking?" But they weren't. They had felt so bad. Even though they shouldn't have been guilty at all. I sat in my brother's lap and cried. Eventually I calmed down while we all sat watching TV. But when I did, they asked me the dumbest question ever--"Aren't you happy?" I said "No." and left the basement to go to bed. My brother had to go back a few days later. His wife had stayed. She was living with us now. I hated her, obviously, and she made every effort to make me like her. She treated me like I was her own little sister. Eventually, she had grown on me, and when she went to live with her family again, I cried. I still envied the growing baby, though. On August 28th, 2010, my dad, my 2 sisters, and I had went to the hospital to visit Rebecca and see the new baby girl. She was named Lilah Faith Leal. Lilah was so tiny and innocent and she looked like a tiny raisin. She was all red and wrinkly. When I got to carry her that day, I instantly fell in love with her. How could I not? She was so small and adorable and I knew I'd love her. My brother and his wife got divorced, but Lilah still comes over every other weekend. I have changed her diapers, given her baths, fed her, helped her walk, given her all the cartoons she's asked for, given her all my food she wanted, helped her talk, draw, and take pictures (mostly of herself) and so much more. She wants to be a football player like Bo, not a cheerleader like Monster. But she does Monster's exercises, which counts for something. I love to see her grow and every weekend she has a new word. First she describes everything as "Amazing, Monster! That is amazing!" Next she's saying "Bravo!" to everything we do. She likes to play piano with me and dance, and she only wants Monster to do certain things for her. She falls a lot, laughs a lot, and smiles even more. I could never hate her for as long as I live. I love her to death and I'll always help her grow every chance I have.