Mahalia's social nature has her father and I scratching her heads. She can entertain a whole row of New York subway riders, a jaded audience, with her smile and her wave. She waved at a homeless man last week who looked at me and said, "Is she waving at me?"

We envision arriving home in 13 years to a house filled with pimply teenagers and it makes us nervous. For now, it's a sweet and refreshing way to chat with New Yorkers, people who typically avoid making eye contact with each other. Here's a picture of her sitting in the window of the local coffee shop watching and waving at people passing by.