Thanks Debra.
Yes, he might be partly spirited. I usually think not, except for the sleeping. Anything related to sleeping seems to come out spirited. LOL. Now that we stopped the pat/shhh he is sleeping much better. We are also putting him down much earlier. And he is sleeping so much better. His naps are reasonable and, as an added bonus, his nighttime sleep is better. He was sleeping 5-7 hours a night and has slept 7.5, 8, and 8.5 straight the last three nights running. I feel like a new person!
Thanks for replying and letting me know that you have also gone through this. It helps to know that I am not alone.