Bedrest diversions: knitting and Nikita

It's been a week since the initial positive result for preterm labor, and so far, so good. I haven't started either Crime and Punishment or The Brothers Karamazov (I also just put in a library request for an intriguing new novel, Zoli by Colum McCann). But I completed - even tied up all the loose ends - of not only the vest I was knitting for my mom, but also the pair of socks I "finished" knitting sometime last year. Completion of the vest comes just in time: my parents will be arriving later this morning from NYC with food.

I don't know whether it's the bedrest, or the normal progression of this pregnancy, but if I go to bed before 12, I wake up in the middle of the night, and generally cannot fall asleep until 6 am. So, the time you see on this blog is correct. Whereas Igor checks financial indicators, I've been knitting or thinking of new projects to decrease my yarn stash. Here's the current list:

a complete layette for my baby from Knitting for Baby: garter stitch cardigan, possibly in Cascade 220 lime heather; garter stitch cloche and stay-on baby booties in yarn that came with my very first knitting book, Knitting by Anne Akers Johnson

Reversible Lotus Blossom hat (it includes a Moebius hat band) from Cat Bordhi's Treasury of Magical knitting in Cascade 220 fuschia and quatro Kauai

Teddy Bear (possibly felted) for my baby (unless Nikita takes it) from Knitting for Baby in Noro Kureyon 40

Mocassin Socks for Galina (I'm so fortunate that she lives with us!) from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Around in KnitPicks' Swish Superwash Bordeaux and possibly Truffle

Whether or not I'm knitting, hanging out with Nikita is the best diversion of all. It helps that he can now hold full conversations - in Russian (the other day, he asked me why I spoke in English). I'm going to miss his progress in music class, but then again, I see his progress here. He currently spends most of his indoor time playing with his puzzles: either moving a 100-piece floor puzzle (piece by piece) from one part of the rug to another, or purposely making mistakes with his smaller puzzles (36- or 25-piece) so that he can get a reaction from me (he prompts me: Mama, say 'hey!'). He also may be growing out of his daytime nap, but that could be because Igor's been around all week; I'll know for sure when Igor goes back to work. Yesterday, Igor and I were trying to take a nap, but Nikita was going back and forth across the bed, piling up blankets and pillows to make a car (the alternative was sitting on my legs or Igor's stomach). All the while, he talked to himself - even made up a song. I felt like he was 5 years old. But the sweetest development is the nickname he recently came up for me: Mamushka.