Intellectual Defenestration

On newborns

Amy and I were in Atlanta over the weekend to see my new nephew. Aside from being a good time with family and friends, it was fascinating to see the effect a newborn baby can have on people. Titus will do nothing but sleep, but still will become the center of attention in every place he enters. Everywhere a line will quickly queue up for the vaunted privilege of being able to simply hold him.

What makes a baby so mesmeric? It seems to be something more than just the "cutesy" factor. Is it a sort of ubiquitous parental instinct? The promise of new life? Hope?