How Cute is Nila?

Although the question was rhetorical, the answer is super. Super cute. This picture was taken by Biwi last week and it's my test picture for posting via e-mail.

Not Abondoned

I thought I should make my presence known before the squatters show up.

See Nila's blog.

Nila's Big Day

Shock of shocks, I've updated Nila's blog.

Here's a sample:

And Then We Came to an End (of Homemade Yogurt)

The yogurt experiment of 2009 has come to an end.

Below you'll find the results of my endeavors in yogurtery.

Positive findings:

• It's really easy - 10 minutes of work and 12 hours of waiting (most of it spent sleeping). Read more here.
• It made me feel like I was pretty cool - How many people can say they make their own yogurt?
• It only costs about $4.50 for half a gallon of yogurt - I had to buy milk and some starter yogurt. Future batches would only cost as much as the milk I used.

Less-than-positive findings:

• The second batch was a dud - That means no starter yogurt for the third batch. I have to buy everything again. Another $4.50 and half a gallon of inedible yogurt.
• The batch only lasts a week - I think that would be fine if Angie and I were also eating it and not just Nila. Before I started working so late - and sleeping so late as a result - I would eat about 1/2 a cup each morning in a smoothie. I don't do that anymore. Nila's the only one eating yogurt everyday. So I spent $4.50 for the week. We normally spend $3.50 on Nila's yogurt for the week.
• Nila doesn't eat as much of the homemade - I think it's because there isn't any sugar in it. I added fruit puree, but it's not the same. She was eating the lowest sugar store-bought brand I could find already.

With that, I decided that 12 grams of sugar each morning was a small price to pay to get Nila back to enjoying her yogurt in the morning rather than suffering through half as much as she'd normally eat.

Yo Baby wins this round.

**Update**

I tasted the yogurt once more before throwing it all away. It didn't taste too bad, so am straining it as we speak.

I strained the first bit. Now, it looks and tastes like a fine Greek-style yogurt.

I will have the same problems above; no one will ever eat all of this yogurt, but maybe it isn't a bust after all.

Nila!

Hey, have you seen my baby lately? Look how cute she is!



Believe it or not, Angie made the dress in this picture. She's very crafty. Check out her blog for more of her craftiness.



I dont' know why Angie put stickers on her cheeks, but she does look cute.

It's all so cute.

Cute. Cute. Cute.

19 Days

Because I Said I Would

Yesterday, Joan asked me why I hadn't updated this blog and when I would. I said that I would update last night, but then I didn't, so I am doing it now.

I haven't written anything since the potato bug incident and a lot has happened since then. Most notably, the potato-bug-related nightmares have stopped.

We went from SoCal to Phoenix and now we're in Houston. Our first day in H-Town we witnessed a huge explosion just a few blocks away from the office. It wasn't terrorism like I assumed, but rather a freak accident in which a power transformer blew up in a huge ball of fire. We were without electricity for a number of hours. I think it was good practice for Iraq!

Since then, I've spent most of my time anticipating the American Idol finale. I missed last week's shows, but I know Melinda is no longer in the running. I think Blake is the clear winner, but America doesn't always agree with me.

In real-life news, Angie is headed home this week instead of going forward to Iraq. We decided that it would be better for her (and little baby Nila), if she went home until after the baby is born. I am still headed to Iraq this Friday.

Tomorrow...

... we head off to training. So much has happened in the last week that I want to write about here, but I don't have the time!

Today was my last day at Measurement, Inc. It was a great job. Everyone there was so welcoming. On Wednesday, I was given over 45 minutes to share my experiences with and in Iraq to the whole room (maybe 60+ people). Everyone was so receptive and supportive! I made some really good contacts and I an excited to see what the future brings.

Also on Wednesday, Angie and I found out...that...it's....a....GIRL!

I will write more over the next few days, but, if you remember December 2005, you know that training doesn't give much time for posting.

I love you all and I can't wait to share all the wonderful things that are happening!