First hotel outnumbered

Last weekend my oldest, Ashley, had a cheer competition out of town. Out of state actually. It was only two hours away, but with having a newborn, an early competition, and snow in the forecast, we decided it was best to get a hotel for the night.

Were we crazy? A hotel with three kids, one of them just a month old?

Zach’s sleeping habits were very irregular, to say the least. We were still trying to help him figure out the difference between day and night, and the idea of all of us sleeping in one room was a little terrifying.

Normally when we stay at a hotel, I share a bed with our youngest daughter, Lilly, while my husband shares with Ashley. This time, we had to rethink everything.

We booked a suite with two queen beds and a pull-out couch. Ashley was very clear: “I am NOT sharing a bed with Lilly.”

Ironically, this worked out in our favor. Ashley claimed the pull-out, my husband slept with Lilly, and Zach and I shared a bed.

We went to bed at 9:00, hoping that with a 6:00 a.m. alarm we’d still get some rest. And yes, 9:00 is normal bedtime for us. Even at home.

Our biggest concern was Zach waking the girls. He usually wakes three to four times a night to eat or need a diaper change.

But somehow, that night, he only woke up twice.

The best sleep he’d had since being born.

Who is this kid, and what did he do with my baby?

After his first feeding around midnight, I laid him on his belly. I know the guidelines, but all of our kids have always slept better this way. I was right next to him, with no extra blankets or pillows nearby.

Zach slept. I did not. I was wide awake from 2:00–3:30 scrolling on my phone because my body was used to being awake.

My husband was awake because Lilly kept kicking him.

Ashley was awake because our makeshift night light was “too bright” and she needed the bathroom multiple times.

Go figure. The baby we were worried about slept great.

Now that we’ve survived our first hotel stay as a family of five, we feel ready to take on the world.