TGIM

I never thought I would ever be thankful for a Monday, but I'm still pregnant, and had no contractions over the weekend. Perhaps because I'm more relaxed, I don't fall asleep at night worrying about waking up with contractions, and the baby's kicking seems less harsh.

I wish I could sleep through the night, however - or maybe that's asking too much. I've been working off my insomnia by knitting the BSJ for the baby while listening to Fagles' translation of The Iliad (I gave up on the poetry lectures for now). I never read this book, but the translation is gripping, and Derek Jacoby is fantastic as the main reader. His reading makes me wonder why British actors are always associated with the Classics. I asked Igor whether a particular accent is associated with classic Russian works or being educated, and he couldn't think of one. He claims that an educated Russian person is noted by his vocabulary rather than the accent he uses.

Other great books that Igor recently picked up for me (thanks to the online reservation system):

• The Read-Aloud Handbook (6th edition): I should really give out a copy of this book to friends who are expecting babies. I have the 5th edition of this book, and am using it to record which of the read-alouds Nikita likes. I picked up the 6th edition to see the new titles in the "Treasury of Read-Alouds".
• Stories by Anton Chekhov (translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky): I reserved this book so that I could compare the P/V translations with that of Constance Garnett. Based on the first few paragraphs of "The Lady with the Dog", I decided that I like Garnett's translations better. Now which Garnett translation to get? Perhaps the Modern Library edition instead of the recently released Ecco edition. Although the latter is complete, I wonder whether I really want 13 volumes printed on pulpy paper.
• The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: A cool book. I wish I had it up earlier in my bedrest when I had more time for the lessons, but c'est la vie. I may purchase a used version, or see whether the author comes out with a new edition in a few years.

I also got some books for Nikita (including The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook), but he still carries at least one of his Thomas the Tank Engine books around the house. Last night, he even woke up looking for one of the books so that he could go back to sleep. Other kids go to sleep with a teddy bear; mine holds onto a behemoth of a book. I hope that Nikita's love of books survives television and electronic toys. Igor says we'll just junk our TV.

At the moment, Nikita is hanging out in the backyard with Galina. He really enjoys being outside, but Igor is disappointed with him because he's been so lazy in classes lately. For the past three weeks, Nikita hasn't been listening to his music appreciation teacher, and generally hasn't participated. He doesn't even eat his cookie! I think this is just a phase, of course, and I wish I knew how to reverse it. I personally don't advocate Igor's method - badgering Nikita - but I'm pretty sure Nikita is not going to remember the badgering when he grows up. On the positive side, Nikita recently has told stories to himself while looking at his Thomas the Tank Engine books, i.e. describing the pictures. I don't know whether I should be impressed by his visual memory, but listening to him when he thinks no one is listening is really cute.