I am going to be a great aunt (much emphasis on 'great' ). I had posted about my niece being pregnant and she called me tonight to let me know she is keeping the baby. Everyone is very excited about this baby (who we know is a girl) and looking forward to her entrance and me, I finally get to shop in the little girls section! LOL

But, I do have a question about what my kids will be to my niece's baby. Will they be second cousins, first cousins once removed, or what? Someone tried explaining this to me a long time a go, but I can't remember how it works.

By Texannie on Friday, June 4, 2004 - 09:02 pm:

Just go with cousins! LOL
I think if they are your cousin's children then they are first cousins once removed. I think this baby would be your kids' second cousins.
So my cousin's son is my first cousin once removed. Our children are 2nd cousins.
I think??!!! LOL

By Christylee on Friday, June 4, 2004 - 09:16 pm:

I agree with just cousins! lol... I've never been able to figure it out!

I'm glad to hear that she is keeping the baby! Congratulations on becoming a "great" aunt!

By Texannie on Friday, June 4, 2004 - 09:32 pm:

Here's an explanation, but I am not sure if I was right! LOL

http://www.genealogy.com/16_cousn.html?Welcome=1086399051

By Tink on Friday, June 4, 2004 - 09:49 pm:

Annie, I think you hit the nail on the head! After looking at that page I finally get it. Cool. Sunny, your kids and the new baby are second cousins. The baby is your first cousin, once removed.

By Texannie on Friday, June 4, 2004 - 09:59 pm:

I was right???!!! Yippee!!! My mom's cousin was really into the proper titles and I can remember her driving my mother up with wall with this. My would yell in her beautiful Tennessee drawl..wha difrunce duz it maake, we r jus cuzzins! LOL

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 08:15 am:

All that stuff drives me nuts, because I can never remember it. My mom's aunt is actually only a few years older than she is, so *we* call her Aunt. Her kids are actually my mom's cousins, but are my age and younger, and we call them our cousins. And - this is sort of funny - the youngest *cousin's* DD is the same age as Jeff and I call her my niece.

By Emily7 on Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 08:22 am:

I have an Uncle that is 6 yrs older than me, his kids are my cousins, but call me Aunt Emily.
The cousins thing gets really confusing.

By Sunny on Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 10:42 am:

Thanks for the link, Annie. I think I understand it, but I may just take your suggestion and call them cousins. LOL
There will be only 2 years between my youngest and this baby, so I think cousins will be less confusing.

By Tink on Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 10:42 am:

Like Karen and Emily, we just use the titles that make sense given the generation that each is born to. My cousin's kids are called my Nephews and my aunt is just called aunt by my kids. She said that great-aunt made her feel too old. Glad we straightened??? everything out!

By Texannie on Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 12:53 pm:

My brother was a bachelor for a long time. I was afraid my kids would never have an aunt, so they call my cousin and her husband (we grew up like sisters) aunt and uncle. I call their kids niece and nephew.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Saturday, June 5, 2004 - 11:53 pm:

I am glad she is keeping the baby. My kids call my best friend and her husband mom and dad. They call my oldest DD's best friend of 12 years mom **** and dad ****. And they call my neighbors Aunt and Uncle. We are of the mind that blood doesn't only bind a family love does too. A person can never have enough people in there life to love them. Congrats to your niece and happy pregnancy vibes...