My pets have been my babies too. I am down to one little cat now and she is not doing well. She has recently gone blind and stays confused a lot but she still eventually gets to where she wants to go. Her favorite purr place now is about an inch from my face. I have never done the name-calling thing but comfort from grief works differently from person to person. Both of my parents have been gone for several years and I will suddenly start crying uncontrollably about them even now. And I dream about them almost every single night. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing, especially if it comforts you.