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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Toddler Tuesday

Today, I decided to take a rest day.  I had run the past 3 days in a row, and for me, lately, that's a significant little streak, and I needed/wanted the rest day.  So, without any running to regale you of, I figure I'd share a little glimpse into my life with Norah -- ie, I shall label this anecdote "Naked Narrative."

At 2 years old, Norah is a combination of hysterical cuteness and maddening frustration.  This is an example of such a combo:

She likes to be naked, apparently.

She's gotten pretty good at stripping herself and then streaking through the house in the nude.  This morning, for instance, I went in the kitchen long enough to rinse out my coffee cup and in that 1 minute or so, I came back into the living room to discover her completely undressed.

Now, on the one hand, I think that a giggling, naked 2 year old is probably one of THE reasons I wanted to have children in the first place.  It's just dang amusing.  I mean, c'mon, who doesn't find a 2 year old's chubby little butt cheeks adorable and humorous?!

On the other hand, it's funny until you're trying to get her dressed again.  I actually would just let her chill out in the buff if she were fully potty trained -- what does a naked kid in the house matter? -- but because she's not fully potty trained, a naked little girl means that, inevitably, pee puddles are gonna be right around the corner for me to (literally) step and slip in.  So, once she's naked, it's maybe a few minutes of enchantment and being caught up in her free-spirited charm, and then comes the ugly task of chasing her down and wrestling her into a diaper and clothes.

The best comparison I can give is that it's like trying to stuff a squirming, wet octopus into shorts and a t-shirt: It feels like she has twice as many limbs, and no matter how dry she is, she's a slippery little beast!

It doesn't help that the Laws of Parenthood dictate that such dressing will be accompanied by her LOUD protests, Caleb will chose that moment to start crying, and a FedEx truck will drive by so Scooter will start howling.  Such a symphony of noise always makes me immediately lose my sh*t; I typically think of myself as being pretty patient, but when 2 kids are crying simultaneously and the dog is baying, I feel like my brains are gonna explode with frustration.

Then, finally, she's re-clothed and re-diapered; Caleb is soothed, and Scooter is reprimanded, and I'm sweaty and a little psychotic. 

Then...a few minutes later, I find the whole exhausting business humorous again!

19 comments:

Julie D said...

Gotta somehow incentivize nakedness for doing the potty business correctly! =P

Krissy said...

You described it SO well, getting a 2 year old to be diapered and clothed is a nightmare especially when they are having a fun time doing what they do best! As funny as it is I almost loose it everytime as well. It's like they see right through the straight face we are trying to put on!

Unknown said...

We got princess panties for our little nudist. She may only wear the undies but at least it's something and it helped immensely with potty training. Much more incentive to keep cute panties dry!

Heather said...

I remember Sophie going through the stage where getting her dressed was pure torture - it made mornings before work very stressful! Like all baby/toddler things, it seems like it will last forever and then before you realize it, they are on to a new phase.

Erin said...

And normally it starts all over again just after you have calmed down and regained order.

raulgonemobile said...

You nailed that octopus description quite well. If my son doesn't want to get dressed, he will make you work for it.

N.D. said...

haha, that sounds really fun! It is advanced that she can get all her clothes off though :)

Crissy Rae said...

This post made me giggle. I can just imagine the total chaos followed by calm and orderliness...followed by more chaos. Gotta love those little munchkins!

ajh said...

This story made me laugh! Glad you got back to the humorous part but oh man it must have been frustrating for a bit.

Agate Lake Girl said...

I've so been there (well minus the second crying). :)

Unknown said...

Been there too, WITH the second crying! Enjoy the nakedness now because it will be a little weird when she's older! Ha ha!

MCM Mama said...

I know I shouldn't laugh...

MNFirefly said...

My son did that same stuff when he was Norah's age - minus the missing diaper.

James said...

My boy loves to run naked or in just undies. He's three now and rarely has accidents. Hang in there and she'll be going pee-pee by herself soon.

Robin said...

Haha, this is funny! Kids just love to be naked. Eva will let me lay her down long enough to take off her dirty diaper and wipe her bottom, and as soon I as start to get a new diaper ready to put on her, she flips over and starts to crawl away, naked bootie in the air for all to see. It is frustrating but cute all at the same time. Gotta love parenthood.

Meghan said...

Ha! They do love to be "nakey." My 3-year old son this summer decided to let himself out onto our deck, strip naked and turn on the hose to splash in the water. All unbeknownst to me while I was making dinner! Imagine my surprise when I heard a little knock on the patio door and saw that little naked body. I couldn't help but laugh.

Marlene said...

That has to count for some kind of cross-training!

Carolina John said...

Let her just run in a diaper. It's normal for clothes to feel alien to a baby or small child. My girls are 4 and 6 now and wear nothing but panties until they have to leave the house.

and who doesn't love the little Gerber baby pose? It's adorable!

Wes said...

I love kids. I love them even more when they belong to somebody else :-)