My brother's kid.

Caileigh is 3 and a half. She'll be four in November, which she thinks is also tomorrow.

This past weekend we were in St. Louis. And by "we," I mean: Myself, Ben, Allyson, my mom, my brother Dan, Caileigh (who is Dan's daughter), my other brother Kevin, and Kevin's wife Tracy.

Kevin is in the Army and currently stationed overseas (not Afghanistan). He had some leave time, so he came back to the States for about a week. He's based out of Ft. Leonard Wood (in Missouri). He and Tracy spent a few days just the two of them, then they met up with us in St. Louis for two nights.

Caileigh cracked us all up the entire trip. A few examples:

Monday we planned to go to the St. Louis Zoo. (It's awesome. And FREE. Can't beat free.) Anyway, that morning we were all at breakfast and we were talking about what animals we hoped to see.

Me: Last time we were here, they didn't have the penguin exhibit ready. I heard it's open now, though. You wanna see some penguins today, Caileigh?

Caileigh (looking me right in the face, shaking her head): No penguins today.

(We actually saw lots of penguins. They were amazing.)

Tuesday morning we were down partaking of free hotel breakfast. I was still a little hungry after my biscuit and gravy (singular; the breakfast staff wasn't exactly on top of it) so I went to get a bagel. Caileigh saw me getting a bagel and yelled across the breakfast room: "Aunt Krissy, noooo! That's a hard doughnut!!"

A little later as we were packing to go home I went across the hall from our room to my mom's room. (My mom had gotten three rooms right together - one for Ben, Ally and I; one for her, Dan and Caileigh; and another for Kevin and Tracy. Kevin and Tracy ended up moving because their room had two double beds in it and Kevin is 6'2".) I'd gone over to get the hairspray Mom borrowed from me. Caileigh was on the bed, crying. Dan explained that she'd tripped in the hallway and got a little rug burn on her knee.

Caileigh (between tears): I want Aunt Krissy!
Me (sitting down next to her): Do you want a hug?
Caileigh: No.
Me: Um... okay. Do you want a kiss?
Caileigh: No!
Me: Well, what do you want?
Caileigh: I don't know.
Me: Can I go back to my room and finish packing?
Caileigh: Okay.

The poor kid has been struggling with a bad rash on her bottom for about a month. Originally a doctor at her pediatrician's office (not her regular doctor) told Caileigh's mom that it was just diaper rash. Her regular doctor took a look at it this week: Staph infection. So now, we wait to find out if the poor little thing has to have surgery.