comparison to San Diego, but in a way I like it better. It feels more open, like the animals aren't so enclosed or cut off from everything else. I don't know. I think it's pretty typical for an intercity zoo, though. We didn't stay there all that long, only a couple of hours, because the kids got tired.The baboon habitat was ridiculous! There were at least 40 baboons there, and a whole bunch of babies running around. It was one of my favorite parts, but nothing beats the penguins. Gustav stood by the penguin enclosure and just watched for about 10 minutes while anonymous people gathered around him and were then replaced by another group of strangers. It was like he was in his own little world, and if Esther hadn't called him out of it he would've stayed there forever. It was really cute. Aside from that, though, Gustav always stayed close to Esther and spent a good part of the day in the buggy.
Pauline, on the other hand, was completely independent. She was so intent on looking at everyone and investigating everything. Especially if there was another little girl walking around, or a baby stroller. I can't tell you how many times she walked up to a stroller and stuck her face in it to see who was inside. She was so busy looking around that she was constantly off balance from turning her head, and she stumbled over everything. She never worries that she's going to get lost or left behind, either. She just goes about her business and doesn't care about anything else. She is so different than Gustav. She tries anything and everything, but he doesn't do anything until he's absolutely positive that he can do it alone.
Aside from going to the zoo, there wasn't really a whole lot going on today. The kids didn't take a nap today, so that was exhausting for the rest of us. They can be such a pain when they're tired, and the more tired they are the harder it is to get them to go to bed. But they've been in bed for almost 2 hours now and I haven't heard a single whine or cry, so they're probably going to sleep pretty well tonight. And then tomorrow it's back to the usual for everyone. I think that I'm going to pick the kids up myself, though, which could be interesting. Gustav probably won't like it one bit, and I'm prepared to have quite a struggle on my hands in the afternoon. Esther told me tonight that the last au pair wasn't able to handle Gustav and his tantrums, and even after 6 months she couldn't get him to do anything or to let her do anything to help him. Apparently I already have a better relationship with him than she did, and Esther's going to do everything she can to make him realize and accept that I'm here as a part of this household. Pauline has already called me "meine Schwester" so I know she and I are good. Now if they could only understand English. . .
