I unlocked our door and tried to open it wide enough to get the stroller and luggage through. I pushed and realigned, but to no avail.
For some reason, the door simply was not opening widely enough. I squeezed inside the room to see what the problem was, leaving the stroller stuck in the doorway, so Carter and Landon were still in plain view.
Ah, there was the culprit. The Pack N Play I had requested for Landon was set up right behind the door. It was nice that it was set up already, but it couldn't stay there.
I moved it away from the door and got everything inside. Landon wanted to get out immediately, so I set him free to explore. First thing he did was to find a comfy spot on the floor to read.
I didn't bother telling him that he could have read happily in the stroller. I knew that my best chance to get the room organized as I wanted it would be right then, while the boys were still interested in the room, so I got to work.
I decided to do Landon's bed first, since the Pack N Play was still in the middle of the room. I moved it over next to the TV, as out of the way as it could be in a value room.
I spread out his soft, fuzzy Toy Story blanket and placed all of his friends in there, so he would be all set at bedtime.
Next, I studied Carter's bed. The bed rails I had requested were sitting on top of the bed. Carter had never used bed rails before. I had never set up bed rails before.
I decided to unpack the suitcases and come back to the bed rails. I put the big suitcase by the window and the smaller one between the bed and the wall.
Carter appreciated the placement of the smaller suitcase, which let him check out the fifties picture on the wall.
I dug out the outlet plugs, to Landon-proof the room. Not a second too soon, either, since Landon had abandoned his book and was off to see what he could get into.
I examined the room for other potential little-boy dangers. I moved the ironing board out of reach so no one could pull it on his head.
I saw Landon going for the phone, so I moved it to the floor, sort of under the bed, where he couldn't see it. The room seemed safe enough for toddlers.
I put all the snack food in one drawer and put all the diaper changing supplies in another. I left one drawer empty, to stick all our dirty clothes in throughout the trip.
I folded up the City Mini and slid it between the other bed and the wall. The room was looking really good. Except for Carter's bed.
I had put it off long enough. I picked up a bed rail and examined it. It couldn't be too hard. There was writing on the side, probably instructions, for first timers like me.
Instead, the writing was a warning, explaining all the different ways in which my child could be injured or killed from improperly installed bed rails. Yet, it included no information on the proper way to install bed rails.
I knew just what Jeremy would say, and I could almost hear him say it.
"Kate, you're a smart person. Bed rails can't be that tricky. Think how many other moms have installed bed rails. If they can do it, you can do it."
Of course, if Jeremy were there, he would probably set up the bed rails himself and not even read the warnings of tragic results from bed rail misuse.
"If they can do it, I can do it."
I picked one up and shoved it under the mattress, the way it looked like it should go. The rail part seemed to lock into place, so I figured it was okay.
I did the same on the other side and then tested it, by lying on the bed and rolling toward the edge. Seemed steady enough to me.
I put Carter's pirate pillows on his bed and added his soft, fuzzy Cars blanket and all his friends.
My bed was already fine for me, since I hadn't brought any friends or a soft, fuzzy blanket.
I took a minute to pack my parking bag with all the essentials- keys, money, tickets, and phone. I hung up my Dooney and Burke on the hooks. No way I was risking that bag in the parks.
And finally, it was all done. The room was perfectly inhabitable. I decided to take a few minutes to relax (i.e. watch Stacy) while the boys played.