According to Dr.Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, Kaya has officially finished her fourth trimester and now is a legitimate infant (instead of a fetus living outside the womb).  His 5 S’s (swaddle, side, shush, swing, and suck) got us through the first 3 months quite successfully.  And I’m pretty sure Kaya is the happiest baby on the block – although I also think she is the only baby on our block.

We were out braving Hurricane Sandy today in South Boston on the harbor.  The Gangsteads are landlocked in Dallas, so Steven really tried to experience the hurricane in all its glory.   James went along for the ride.  We stayed inside.

Kaya’s new friend Summer came all the way from Texas to celebrate Halloween at the Rose household.  They haven’t exactly learned to play together yet – but Kaya learned how to roll over (front to back) while sharing her play mat with Summer.  I predict a wonderful friendship in the future.

Great Aunt Peggy took Kaya (and her parents) our for a delicious Bertucci’s lunch.  She even braved the bright sun of Boston after an eye exam.  Thanks for lunch!

This past weekend we found the Tampa area to be quite nice, although we spent a long time discussing the residents’ choices on lawn care, driveways and mailboxes.  Many residents in Great Grandma’s neighborhood have chosen to paint their houses and driveways the same (hideous) color.  Some have chosen to fill their lawn with statues instead of grass.  And here is an example of a mailbox across the street from Great Grandpa’s living facility.  Classy.

Kaya’s current favorite toy is a ring of cards that hangs from her carseat and displays faces of other babies.  She watches the babies, and talks to them and smiles at them.  This was a gift from her cousins (second cousins?) Cora and Cali and their parents.  At first I was a little skeptical that she would take to it, but now I can’t imagine putting her in her carseat without her little baby face friends.

This weekend we visited Kaya’s great grandparents (Tommy’s grandparents) in Florida.  She’s the first great grandbaby on their side of the family and they were thrilled to meet her.  Kaya was pretty smitten with great grandma as well.  Notable events from the weekend: watching a beautiful sunset, classic Kircher family foot/hand moulding, great grandma’s 88th birthday (!!), fantastic surf and turf dinner (thanks Hardy!) and Kaya’s first pushup and visit to the swimming pool.  We squeezed a lot into 36 hours in Florida.  More pics in the gallery.