Two steps forward, three steps back

We've had a good last week; we're trying to train Jayden to sleep through the night, but I'm unwilling to let him "cry it out," so it's quite a process.  We've gotten to the point where we can usually calm him down without having to pick him up.  The next step will be for us to calm him down without having to use a pacifier and eventually with just saying soothing words to him.  For a few nights last week it worked: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights he slept from 8:00 pm to 5:00 or 5:30 am.  Carmen would get him back to sleep until 7:00 am when I would change his diaper, dress him and feed him.  It was pretty great.  It meant we even got to read a book together one morning!

Then Saturday night came and he decided he was going to wake up every 20-40 minutes from 8:00 pm until about midnight.  Then he woke up at about 4:00 am, then again at 6:00 am.  Last night was better - he at least went to bed right away.  But then he was awake from midnight to 1:00 am, from about 4:00 to 5:00 am and then was up for good at about 6:30 am.  I don't expect the whole sleeping thing to be automatic, but it would be great for it to continue to get more consistent.  It just takes a LOT of patience, and the realization that I will be sleeping a lot less while "training" him so that I can sleep more once he's trained. 

His social nature has also meant that it's harder for him to nap during the day.  Which means he usually has one longer nap in the later afternoon.  Sometimes in very odd positions:

We've continued with the solids; it's been an interesting experience.  It has definitely changed his bowel movements - we're down to one a day, which is pretty amazing for our little boy.  He thoroughly enjoyed the sweet potatoes.  He probably would have had more if we'd given it to him; once we were done feeding him, he often tried to grab the bowl and chew on the bowl too.   

Jayden trying to grab the bowl and "eat" it.  This was last week, before I put the high chair together.

 Today we tried carrots for the first time, and they seemed to be a hit.

Eating some carrots to keep his eyesight good.  (although we've already told him he pretty much has no chance of avoiding glasses considering both of his parents wear them and have worn them for a long time...)

"All done Mama!"  And not too much carrot on his face.

Jayden continues to grab for everything.  We have to make sure he doesn't eat paper, hit buttons on our keyboards that we don't want him to hit, eat my hair, especially when I've just washed it, etc.  He is getting better at sitting up, but still can't quite do it on his own.  He often likes to sit up on his play mat in between my legs to support him.  He still does not like being on his stomach, but I'm trying to find ways to trick him into enjoying it - by putting toys in front of him, especially some of his favorites.  It only sort of works, but I keep trying.