Went to NYC for Christmas weekend. Our drive down on Saturday was terrible because we hit some construction, forcing us to spend nearly 2 hours on a 6 mile stretch. Igor was already not very happy about driving, and Nikita didn't help because he kept asking, "Where is New York?" and "Papa, do you want to go to New York?" Our drive back on Christmas Day (Igor had to work the next day) was much better: only 3 instead of 6 hours.
The trip was short, but we had a good time. Sunday morning, Igor and I hung out in Brighton Beach while my parents took Nikita to a real beach where he threw stones and chased seagulls. They had to do so because Nikita kept saying how he wanted to go to "Fightin Beach" to throw stones. It's amazing how much he's progressed; he can really argue in complete sentences.
Christmas Eve dinner was a quiet but late affair, with Vincent and his girlfriend, Sandra, joining us. In the morning, my mother assured me that all she had left to cook was chicken salad and the ham, but by 8.30 pm, the roast leg of lamb had been resting on the table for an hour, the ham and baked potatoes were nearly done, and my mother was furiously preparing carrots and broccoli for blanching while my brother grilled vegetables and my father made Salmon Florentine (which was barely touched because of all the other dishes). We probably had enough food for 30 people, but it was all good - particularly the lamb (my baby really likes meat!).
I'm not sure Nikita quite understands the concept of Christmas (the birth of Jesus or the gift giving), but he certainly had fun. The photo at the beginning of the post was taken at a Christmas party thrown by his music teacher - he looks like he won the lottery. And, of course, he got tons of presents at my parents'. The most popular seem to be the Magna Doodle Igor and I got for him (and should have gotten for him ages ago), a stuffed dog he received from Sandra, a puzzle he received from my old neighbor, and a keyboard he got from my parents.
He also got the hottest toy this season - a TMX Elmo - from my parents, but we've already sent it down to the basement because we're afraid of him breaking it. This toy makes no sense at all for a toddler his age. My mom expected him to be fascinated by Elmo's antics, but Nikita kept on trying to hold it. My mom tells me I have to teach him not to touch it, but honestly, how can you expect a toddler to just sit and watch a moving toy? Of course, he's going to want to move its parts.
The trip to NYC was perhaps too short, but it's good to be home. I'm off until February, and have already gotten done some things around house. The biggest thing is probably hauling stuff from our basement to the Salvation Army. I also started knitting again - a vest for my mom (I'm hoping I can finish it before the baby comes. Otherwise, it will never get done.). Finally, it's just good to hang out with Nikita again. He's really become imaginative. Already, he's played with his puzzle pieces as if they were a train or a piano. And the other day, Igor fashioned a house through which he could crawl out of boxes. At one point, Nikita said he wouldn't enter the house because there was a rat inside.
