So what DO I call her?

From Google: Definition of "honey": "a SWEET, STICKY YELLOWISH-BROWN FLUID made by bees and OTHER INSECTS from nectar collected from flowers."

The Spanish word doesn't conjure up the same thoughts of closeness, etc.

Mami

I majored in languages in college. I get a kick out of doing literal translations, particularly of slang, e.g., for German, "arschfrierendes Kalt". The literal translation is "ass-freezing cold", but it sounds ridiculous in German.