The Zoo

Baby J. and I Next to the Rhino Cage

I thought I'd talk about a trip we took this last summer. We went to the zoo for the first, when Baby J. was about six months old. We'd never been to the zoo in our area, so my wife and I wanted to check it out, and we thought since our little one is literally obsessed with our cats that she would get a kick out of seeing all the other animals. Well, Baby J. had a wonderful time, when we went, but it wasn't because of all the other animals. She loved the trip, because of all the people watching she got to do. Apparently, your average person is more exciting for a six month old baby than giant elephants, lions, orangutans, polar bears, sea lions, or tigers. While my wife and I were having fun looking at all of the interesting animals, Baby J. was studying every face that went her way, and she was absolutely, completely quiet while she did it. She didn't breathe a word the entire time.

When we left however, Baby J. couldn't stop talking. I guess, in her own language and her own way, she was telling us about every person she saw that today. She was babbling non-stop for the forty minute car ride back home. It's almost as if, while watching everyone, she was holding in all of her thoughts, until finally upon leaving, she exploded, having to get it all out and let us know exactly what happened.

All in all, it was a fun trip. And what made it most fun was knowing that Baby J. is going to enjoy the zoo more next year. I have a feeling that next year, the lions, tigers, and bears are going to be far more interesting than all of the people.

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D.