Eli's switch to the bottom bunk twin bed

We thought his first successful nap in his new twin bed would prove a smooth transition from the crib.  On Saturday after we revealed the new rooms to the kids, Eli did take a nap in the bottom bunk of the boys room that afternoon.  I suspect he was just so tired that he fell asleep quickly.  I laid him down in the bed once it was dark and the fan was turned on, and he fell asleep almost immediately.  We watched the Frozen movie while he slept.

Eli woke up a couple hours later and emerged downstairs.  So weird to see him walking around after a nap! 

The night, however, didn't go so well.  Dave was more optimistic about Eli's switch to the twin bed than I was.  I was kind of dreading it, to be honest. 

We got the kids to bed the first night.  The older three were actually excited to sleep in their new beds - there was no issue with them.  Eli, however, kept getting out of bed, opening the door, and coming to visit us.  After repeatedly putting him in bed over and over, I think he fell asleep out of boredom.  Dave heard him wake up and babble during the night four times.  He got out of bed and went to see what Eli was doing every single time, and once he found him downstairs wandering around the dark house.  Dave said he went back to sleep every time when he'd put him in bed though.  By morning, he was awake so early.

The second night was last night.  He did the same thing, getting out of bed repeatedly after putting him in bed.  Some spankings later, he stayed in his room.  I think he learned not to open the door, rather, he would get out of bed and wander around his room. 

Dave and I retreated to bed last night and Dave checked on the kids.  He looked in Eli's bed and he was nowhere to be found.  He looked around the room, nowhere.  Under the bed?  Nope.  Besides the bed? In the closet? Nope.  In the hanging chairs?  Nope.  He pulled back the canopy flaps and saw Eli laying on the cushy pillow inside the play canopy totally asleep holding his blanket.  We couldn't stop laughing for awhile.  I snapped a pic.  Dave put him back in his bed.  He got up a couple more times in the night again.  We tried putting the toddler gate under the mattress but it won't fit the way the bunk frames in the mattress.  So we're not really sure what to do...I guess Eli will just learn.