Twins

I haven't  done posting on having specifically twins. I should though, especially since my wonderful cousin JUST had two little girls across the pond, HURRAY!, and I want to pass on some good vibes. Also, since our's have miraculously grown large, are not using diapers and do not need buggys, neither do they use sip cups or need naps (as of last week... so we shall see...). At any rate, we have turned a monumental corner in our lives here, Jasmin is to start school after the summer and simultaneously, we have moved into the new house. This creates glorious chances to sort, recycle, give away, sell and contemplate all the amazing amounts of stuff one can accumulate in one year.

So in turning corners, I have the energy to answer the question: how does one survive the amount of work and time required, how does one get enough sleep and most often, what do I need for twins!!!???
Well, here are my official 4 "do's" ( and DON'Ts):

1. Depending on your type, personality, financial situation, partner situation, you might react differently. But in general the rule is to take it easy, and practice patience. Like with a dealing with all aspects in life, AND especially children, if you keep your cool, you have solved half the problem. If you loose your patience, the problem doubles. I have done my share of sobbing at 2am, falling asleep while nursing two at the same time, and now, with two 3-year olds, getting irritated and shouting, but just remember they are SO small, you are capable and it all turns out in the end. START practicing patience NOW, before they come.

2. SLEEP when you can. START NOW! I have at times thought ( still happens) it more important to have a well-swept floor and gourmet dinners on the table, then to sleep. NOT TRUE.

3. Less is more. Is that a cliche? Most likely, since all cliches tend to be ultimately true. Less equipment than you think. Keep it simple. You DO NOT need two of everything! I do not have two sets of clothing, even now at the age of three, it resembles more 1 and a quarter. AND choose natural organic fabrics like wool and silk. They last longer, do not get dirty and you you need very few shirts since they seem to never get dirty. If they do, you just air them out. AND if you have a boy and girl, choose neutral colors, buy four of the same shirt, and just accept that he wears pink somedays.  (This mantra goes for everything. Toys, books, bicycles. Keep it simple, natural materials that are healthy for the children and the environment, and that will last longer and save money in the long run. Be strong and stay away from all the plastic-fantastic stuff you will be given. When plastic gets worn it just gets ugly and breaks, it is toxic and unnatural for little ones to chew on. It just feels too hard. Wood on the other hand gets patina, and is repairable.

4. Speaking of simple: On the other hand, coming from Norway, I DO recommend adequate sleeping arrangements when out and about. Which here means a large buggy, for the first 6 months, a cadillac. For the remaining two years they need it choose a smart one that can turn on a dime. I have my ultimate favorites I could not live without. Since it is cold in the winter you need a carry bag for each one, you can carry in from the buggy, so that they can continue sleeping when you get home, which is large enough for big sheepskin bags and covers.

After that I would not have survived without my One Tree HIll, or Mountain Buggy as I think it is called now. Easy to turn, easy to assemble. Fits through most doors. Good to sleep in. Would not need it if I lived in the bush, obviously, but everywhere else involving a little asphalt, dirt road, traffic and even buses, I recommend them. They are a little steep in price, OK they are the most expensive twin buggy I have come across, but they are worth it, and if you care for them, they are easy to sell used. Even better, buy them used as I did. You can buy small bags for them intended for newborns, but they only last 6 months, I personally think that is too soon to move over to the stroller/ sitting situation. They need a bag for the first year, to be able to lay down and stretch their back.

This is just as important if you come from warm climates or drives cars a lot, they need to be fully flat. And if you moms want to get back in shape and actually go meet people at cafes again the next two years, you need a big buggy they can sleep in comfortably. And you need a buggy they can sleep, eat, and be tied to in dangerous traffic situations when they are even older. Which I still do when I go to big cities like Bergen or the such.

Back with more exciting news just around the corner.

cheers.

Enviormental Housekeeping

One Small Change was the name of a project circulating on the web last year. Every month one was to make "one small change" towards the better, towards conscious living. We have done a few major changes and actually turned them into habits. This is the only way to make changes,  if you take upon yourself too many changes at once they will drown out and become nothing.

We have converted to using wash nuts full time. I mentioned these before in an earlier post, but now I can say for sure they work. It is just as easy, just as clean and actually cheaper. AND they work on everything. Wool, silk, cloth diapers. You name it.

Check out our house blog for more info on nuts in Norwegian, and where to buy them. 

save energy searching

Saving energy possibilities are everywhere. Everything counts, save energy while searching the web. Use Blackle. Then you are preserving energy by not lighting up thousands of pixels you don't need, and you get used to the dark screen quite quick.

News break

Which would be a break for me, from reading the news. Life is great as a student. Time alone, sun streaming through the windows, piles of books, articles, adventure and opinion just waiting.

Children running around at kindergarten and husband at work.

Important tip and this months One Small Change for the benefit of ourselves, our environment and those around us: The Washing Nuts.

Here is a link for you Norwegians on where to buy them. They are good for the environment, good for your skin, for your clothes. Everything. And they are cheap, fair trade, organic, and they WORK. Believe me, I just washed a load of BAD cloth diapers. They are clean: smell clean, look clean, feel clean.

It is a small nut from India and Nepal, the shells contain saponin, which turns into soap when in contact with warm water, Been used for eons as natural soap.

Never again will I use chemical substances for washing anything. Totally unnecessary.

Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.