I'm dating myself here, but do you remember the Coppertone Girl?

The quintessential blonde California (toddler) Girl, sporting a Coppertone tan and little pony tails on a beach, her less than tan bum revealed by a puppy dog pulling down her bikini bottom.

It is stereotypical, sure, but just plain cute. I love the sight of children a bit older than babies enjoying the sunshine and freedom simultaneously. Aside from toddlerhood, when else does life these days afford one the opportunity to run half-naked on a beach without consequence? I'm stocked up on sunscreen for the summer, so I encourage this. Especially since my 20 month old daughter has learned to, and seems to love, removing her diaper with speed and efficiency. I have an opportunity here, and I'm going to spend the summer not fighting her to keep the diaper on, but going with the flow of her stubborn little mind, because sooner or later, she'll make a deposit in the right place.  That plastic portable potty that cost me $16.99 at the baby store will prove priceless when planted next to Grandma's pool during June, July, August and September. Four months for her to find her own way...four months for me to read more by the pool than potty training books for parents.  

My daugher looks more like a Santorini transplant than a blonde California Girl, however, she is fourth generation Californian, sunshine is in her blood. She's been bobbling around in the Pacific since she was in utero, and we have no plans to change this.  Whether it's a pool, waterslide, blow up plastic front-yard pool or sandy beach, I'm trusting my instincts to let her go diaper-less. This means less stains on my carpet, this means not sitting in front of the toilet for hours with a tenacious kid as I cajole steps toward independence and a life free from Pampers...and an all over tan.

I think it's the perfect formula. I should have done this with my first two children. 

For the sunny days of living diaper-less, I've got my camera, and her baby book ready.

Summer time, and the living's...freely.