Snowpocalypse 2010: Proper attire

Moving a toddler from the balmy indoors to the frigid out-of-doors is not always a smooth transition. Abby has proven to be pretty patient with me, but the bottom line is that there is no shortcut to getting ready to go out into the snow. Dressing up to play in below freezing temperatures in piles of snow that tower well over Abby's head is an arduous and time-consuming process.

I try to have myself completely ready--boots and all--before I even start dressing her. Having to wait for me to get dressed after the drama of getting her ready might just push Abby over the edge. The trade-off, of course, is that wrangling a toddler means I'm a sweaty mess under all my warm layers by the time we're done. From birthday suit to snowsuit, the entire process of getting her into her snow gear takes an average of 20 minutes.

Phase One:

• Pull-ups: I've learned my lesson. Big girl panties are not a good idea for going out in the snow. Our window of opportunity for getting to the potty is pretty firmly shut once we commit to going out in this weather.
• Tall socks: The taller the better. These provide a cotton-y barrier under...
• Saran Wrap: I can package this child's feet as well as a butcher packages beef. A band of packaging tape around her ankles makes this the water-proof barrier that is essential when she loses a boot in 3 feet of snow.
• Leggings: A second layer of packaging tape around the ankles keeps these firmly in place inside her boots.
• Pajama top: We start with a thin layer on the top, but she'll be pretty puffy by the time we're done.

Phase Two:

• Grocery bag: Cut two holes in the bottom for her legs, slip the handles over her shoulders, and voilà! We've got ourselves an instant water-proof layer to prevent snow from sticking to her back.
• Gloves: That's right, gloves. Complete with fingers. I think they're practical. She thinks they're hilarious, and loves to watch her purple fingers wiggle around in their own individual spots.
• Saran Wrap: This time, on her hands. With instructions to Abby to "spread your fingers out wide," I carefully wrap and waterproof her gloved hands. Fingers stay much warmer when they're not wet. Since all she does is eat snow when she's outside, it's important to make sure her hands stay dry. A layer of tape secures the plastic to her long sleeves, then it's time for her...
  
• Fleece pullover: This goes over the plastic bag, zips up around her neck and will get tucked into her...
• Fleece pants: In case I haven't mentioned it before, we've got a lot of snow. And her legs are going to be almost completely buried the whole time she's out there. The importance of layering her legs cannot be understated. Cold legs=whiny Abby.
• Second socks: These keep the saran wrap on her feet in place and provide an added layer of warmth. They also buy me a few minutes while I look for the boot she's sure to lose in one of those piles of snow.
• Cute hat: Furry hats make for cute pictures. Ours is particularly furry, and Abby loves it.

Phase Three:

• Mittens: Because you can't put on a second pair of gloves with saran wrap all over your hands, we settle for mittens to keep the plastic in place. Maneuvering her tiny thumb into position eats up about a quarter of our total prep time. The mittens get taped to her sleeves to keep her from losing them as easily as she does her boots, and to keep the snow out.
• Snow pants: Once we get this far, we're committed. She's getting pretty puffy, and is starting to sweat, so our only choices are to turn back now and undo everything, or get outside and cool off.
• Snow boots: A great consignment sale find back in the fall, these $3 snow boots have served us well. Now if I could just figure out which foot is which...
• Snow jacket: I have to put my hand up through her sleeve in order to pull her gloved, wrapped, and mittened hands back through, but it's all worth it in the end. Zip her up, pull up her hood (more fur!) and we're off to eat some snow!

That is, assuming she doesn't need to go potty.

Life is so much easier for Caleb.

His dilemma is a matter of simple math: 31 inches tall + 30 inches of snow = staying inside. So Caleb is spending our snowed-in days living in his pajamas. Occasionally his dad will throw some overalls over his PJ's in an effort at letting him look civilized. But on day two of being stuck indoors, "civilized" no longer describes my household. Thankfully, Caleb's got countless hours of watching dad shovel snow off the back deck to look forward to.