Need. More. Sleep.

This has been a mixed week - some good things, some frustrating things - some progress, some regression.  As of last week, Jayden was finally working on a more regular sleep schedule - to bed around 7 or 8 pm, waking up for a feeding between 2 and 3 am usually and then waking up for good between 6 and 7 am.  A schedule all of us could handle and almost got used to!  We thought maybe we had a breakthrough and maybe he'd soon start sleeping 7 to 5 or 7 to 6. 
And then...the last three nights happened.  I don't know if it's because Carmen is out of town and not doing the middle of the night feeding or what, but it's caused me all kinds of problems...  I put him down at the same time, around 7 or 8 pm.  He sleeps three to four hours, waking up around midnight-ish, then again at 3 am, then again at 6 or 7 am.  That's not terrible, but what is frustrating is that after the midnight feeding, he won't go back to sleep in his crib.  No matter what I do, or how asleep he is when I hold him, as soon as I put him in the crib he wakes up and is soon upset and crying.  Basically, Jayden ends up sleeping with me from midnight to six (and I end up in tears at some point), with one wake-up for feeding.  I don't know where this is coming from, but I keep waiting for it to blow over . . . and without Carmen home I can't really go to bed any earlier since Jasmine needs to be walked.  So, ultimately, it leads to me sleeping even less than normal (like 4-1/2 to 5 hours a night, in three 1-2 hour increments). 

Now some good news:  Jayden is still incredibly cute and is learning more and more every day.  This past weekend he "discovered" himself in the mirror for the first time:

He stared at himself and made noises at himself for a minute or two before the giraffe and monkey hanging over his head distracted him again!

Since Carmen was out of town (and Grandpa Allan was in Florida), Grandma Barb came to visit this weekend.  It was incredibly helpful - she helped me not feel bad about getting eating out for every meal (and she treated - woohoo!) and she took care of Jayden so I could go to yoga and get a pedicure (long overdue).  Plus, she gave me the opportunity to have grown-up conversation, which is so important to my sanity.  Here are a couple of pictures:

Yes, Grandma took a picture as Jayden was about to cry - he does make a good sad face.  And look at those eyes in the picture with me - so intense!

We also saw Santa this week:

Finally, last but not least, a day care update.  We have visited six different day care providers and I have discovered that what I thought I wanted is not actually what I feel most comfortable with.  I thought I wanted a small daycare, with one or two other children and one person.  Turns out I prefer a daycare with more kids (8-12, usually) and more grown-ups (2-3).  I have two finalists.  I am calling references for one and we will hopefully visit them again next Monday with Carmen and make a decision after that.  It's still a terribly difficult decision to make, but I am feeling better about the whole process since I have found two places where Jayden would be happy, safe and cared for.