The Concrete Gardener

What happened to the couch we moved in with a stru...

2010-08-23T22:48:57.331-07:00

What happened to the couch we moved in with a struggle!! :) Moved out again?

Some thoughts on combatting leaks out the back of ...

2010-07-19T10:35:06.485-07:00

Some thoughts on combatting leaks out the back of the bum genius (since I've worked through this problem too):
1) Make sure no white is peaking out the back of the diaper. The white liner will wick up onto his clothing if it's touching. I make sure the liner is folded under completely, and that the cloth part of the liner is covering the diaper insert (as opposed to the insert touching his skin).
2) Put the folded part of the diaper in the back towards his bum, since boys are more likely to leak out the back (you probably already do this, but if you don't it might solve the problem.)
3) Strip the diapers periodically to get out any tiny soap or poop particles that might be stuck in the diapers and preventing maximum absorption. I strip my diapers once or twice a month. After putting them through the two normal cycles in the washer I do an extra cycle on hot with 1/4 cup baking soda.
4) Over many washes the diapers will naturally get more absorbent. Also he'll soon start to pee less. We used to change Harvey every hour... after 6 months it was every 2 hours, and now it's every 3.

Good luck! I want to hear more about going back to work!

oh my goodness if we did an electronics inventory ...

2010-07-06T18:50:58.251-07:00

oh my goodness if we did an electronics inventory it would take all day! I often wonder how people ever really simplify. I mean seriously we are struggling with how many ac;s we "need" in the new apt. you should come over and help me be ruthless about getting rid of stuff, maybe you are better at it!

Jo, I have to say that I had no idea that you are ...

2010-05-31T23:45:23.127-07:00

Jo, I have to say that I had no idea that you are such an incredible writer, although I should have guessed! Congratulations on this momentous occasion in your life, and I am praying for you both as parents and for little Noah and his future in Christ! I am sure that my parents would concur! All our love to you...

Congrats, hon! Noah is just adorable, and I'll hav...

2010-05-23T06:14:44.565-07:00

Congrats, hon! Noah is just adorable, and I'll have to meet him when I move up to Boston this fall.

Glad you are back blogging! Happy to read the full...

2010-05-21T23:18:56.238-07:00

Glad you are back blogging! Happy to read the full story! Praying for you as you now bring up Noah and the first weeks of getting to know him. lots of love

Hehe, this is an awesome retelling. Noah will enj...

2010-05-21T20:07:14.335-07:00

Hehe, this is an awesome retelling. Noah will enjoy it when he can read. :)

Thanks for sharing - only you can make a labor/bir...

2010-05-21T14:55:14.379-07:00

Thanks for sharing - only you can make a labor/birth story fun & funny -- and if you & eug don't already have plans, know that my home & TV is open on Sunday evening for the Lost marathon ;p

This is a wonderful story! You could have given b...

2010-05-21T14:25:30.018-07:00

This is a wonderful story! You could have given birth at home for how quickly that went!

here's to noah's arrival!!:)

2010-05-11T20:50:22.167-07:00

here's to noah's arrival!!:)

I remember the "chocolate incident" all too well.....

2010-05-01T10:08:11.962-07:00

I remember the "chocolate incident" all too well... Cadbury's is pretty irresistable though... I reckon going through a birth process definitely entitles you to chocolate :)

This is amazing!!

2010-05-01T09:12:29.809-07:00

This is amazing!!

I praise your decision both to use cloth diapers a...

2010-04-30T14:16:05.053-07:00

I praise your decision both to use cloth diapers and to use disposable for the first few weeks. The first few black-tar poops that the baby makes are pretty gross!

This is an exciting time! Enjoy it or survive it! (or both!)

Yay for seedlings! I need to take some more pictur...

2010-04-06T19:18:54.329-07:00

Yay for seedlings! I need to take some more pictures of mine too. They grow so fast: even faster than babies!

Also, I'm totally with you on the "not really feeling changes until they actually happen" thing. Because really, I mostly feel--and especially felt before Harvey was born--that I had no idea what things were going to be like. Why even try to imagine? I'm am told that there are people who take some advantage from visualizing and the like, but that just doesn't work for me.

I hope you guys had a wonderful Easter!

they had a special on "orthorexia" (eating disorde...

2010-03-23T16:23:44.410-07:00

they had a special on "orthorexia" (eating disorder with excessive focus on eating healthy foods) on one of the early morning shows today- I somehow wasn't surprised -- there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

i have been meaning to visit the local credit unio...

2010-03-17T09:17:04.038-07:00

i have been meaning to visit the local credit union - this week, in fact! - to switch from the evil empire - thanks for the nudge :p

I left BofA in 2007 and now for several months I'v...

2010-03-16T10:27:52.683-07:00

I left BofA in 2007 and now for several months I've been trying to leave Citizens. It's amazing how much hold banks have over our lives!

Really enjoying catching up on your blog, Jo! I l...

2010-03-15T12:44:52.269-07:00

Really enjoying catching up on your blog, Jo! I love your pet name for the baby-to-be, it's exactly what I'd see you calling him/her. :)

and we LOVE that you're blogging more too! You sh...

2010-03-12T04:36:05.466-08:00

and we LOVE that you're blogging more too!

You should just get on the T and scream "IM PREGNANT! GET OUT OF MY WAAAAAY." Someone will leave their seat.

Leah! I couldn't agree more... there ARE plenty o...

2010-03-10T12:37:12.798-08:00

Leah! I couldn't agree more... there ARE plenty of things. I also like the idea of not having to run out and get diapers... maybe that makes up for some of the time??

I've never seen a machine so tiny! How wild! I...

2010-03-10T11:31:34.155-08:00

I've never seen a machine so tiny! How wild!

I do a load of cloth diapers almost every day. The actual need is calculated at about once load every 1.5 days, but you get the idea. For me it's been a tremendous blessing not to have to run to the store in the middle of the night for more diapers, and our investment in the Bum Genius inventory has already paid for itself.

That said, there are plenty of things for homemaking women to do all day even with the convenience of a washer and dryer. For example folding all that laundry...

Connie, your aloe made it through the winter! I k...

2010-03-10T07:03:56.074-08:00

Connie, your aloe made it through the winter! I keep on planning to do something medicinal with it, but I can't bring myself to take a leaf.

I would love to see the bulbs :). I think they'll make it...

i crammed spring bulbs together when i planted the...

2010-03-08T19:23:50.637-08:00

i crammed spring bulbs together when i planted them last fall - not sure if any flowers will poke out this spring, but sure hoping the warmer weather will coax them along! (and being squished close together should help them keep warm, right?? :p)

I planted the first of my seeds yesterday too, and...

2010-03-08T16:06:48.353-08:00

I planted the first of my seeds yesterday too, and I do the same thing: plant a whole bunch, and then prove unable to thin them at all. I know, I know, the stronger ones would be healthier with more room, and I have limited space in the garden... but look at those little seedlings! How could I just pull them up and toss them away?!

This year I'm hoping to be able to give away the extra ones.

IKEA furniture is totally awesome. It's so much fu...

2010-03-02T16:49:33.205-08:00

IKEA furniture is totally awesome. It's so much fun finding out how much more use you can get out of a small space! Visiting the store is positively inspiring, and that's coming from someone who generally can't stand retail establishments.

Also, I didn't know you were blogging! We'll be reading regularly from now on. :D