Ryan has now stayed in two different motels, and has done quite well (surprisingly well, actually) in both! Down at the beach we spent three nights/four days in a one room motel room that featured a bathroom, a small fridge, a desk, a table, and two double beds separated by a night stand. We had a playpen for him there, and he did sleep in it after minimal rocking. By minimal I mean 5-10 minutes worth, if that! He was so exhausted from romping on the beach and swimming in the pool that he pretty much crashed at night.
Last week we had some electrical issues in our home, so we spent Wednesday night in a motel. Despite the sudden up-and-go departure we had on Wednesday afternoon, and the several hours he spent with Dan at Dan’s brothers’ apartment, while I was visiting with my brother and then booking a motel, he did well with settling down. I dragged the playpen over, but he chose instead to sleep in bed between Dan and I. He’s a lot bigger than he was as a baby, so we had hands and feet and dimpled knees and elbows pressing into our backs and sides, but he was still so sweet to sleep with, and still so cuddly. It was quite worth it, even if I didn’t sleep too well. ♥
My biggest concern with both motel stays, even more of a concern than him sleeping well, was keeping him IN the motel room. Ryan is a roamer and a runner, and he knows how to operate basic door locks. At the motel down at the beach, we shoved the loaded down beach cart and cooler against the door, and had the shoulder-height door chain in place. But at the local motel, we didn’t have anything like that with us, and all of the furniture was nailed in place (how ghetto fabulous). Since we don’t usually travel, I don’t keep wireless alarms or anything like that around for such an event. We made do with cramming his opened playpen against the door, and when I went to sleep I kept reminding myself that Ryan was with me, so that even while sleeping, I would “feel” and “hear” if he moved. And… it worked! Once he popped up in the morning, so did I. Whew!
For those interested, here at home we don’t have to worry about Ryan sneaking off in the night or during the day while our backs our turned, because not long after moving in Dan installed keyed deadbolts on our front door and back door. The deadbolts look just like this, and they work perfectly:
Of course, we always have to make sure to keep our house keys around, so that we can get IN and get OUT! We keep our house keys on hooks by the back door, and spares in the kitchen cabinet.
Post a comment
My name is Jenn, and I'm 27 years old. I'm happily married to my best friend and soulmate, Daniel. Together we have a six year old daughter named 
Name: Alyssa
Name: Ryan
