My Niece and the Vanishing Baby

My niece, M, is such a cutie, she is 3 1/2 and looks so much like me. When my sister and I have been out with her people have confused her as my daughter since she was born. I outwardly approve of this and am smug, my sister pouts then gives me shit all the time about it.

M is at that age where she is such a handful, but she always makes up for it with her cutie-isms, the sweet things she says, and how affectionate she is.

Last night was Monday night dinner at Mom's. M was sitting on my lap, being all snuggly and cute like she does. All of a sudden she looks down at my belly and starts a conversation about the baby.

M: "Is your baby still in there?" (points to my stomach)

Me: "no shoog, it's not there right now"

M: "why not?"

Me: "um...because it can take a long time to make a baby."

M: "I thought she was in there?" (I think she assumes it is a girl because she is a girl, not because she actually knew it was a girl)

Me: "not right now, but someday."

M: "I think I have a baby in me too! Right here..." (points to her belly)

Then, thank god I was able to distract her by explaining how she will soon give birth to a puppy, which she found very amusing.

That happened one other time a month or so ago, I was able to avoid the conversation.

Who would have thought I would have to try to find the words to explain my fertility situation to a 3 year old. Yikes.

Note to self: Tell sister not to mention anything to M next time I am pregnant.

Here we are a year or so ago: