Hey bro, I have also have a Talia who had major bottle issues (and I'm a teacher).  I think the issue we had was that we didn't introduce a bottle early enough and so she just rejected it out of hand.  My wife had to go back to work after 6 weeks and Talia had never drank from a bottle depsite some effort before hand.  I bought one of every bottle at the store and in the end she chose Avent but only after about a month of refusing.  She would just scream until she tired herself out, fall asleep (but wouldn't let me put her down), wake up and scream some more until Mommy got home to feed her.  Glad to hear that yours is starting to take a bottle here and there.

Regarding the sleeping: mine would only take naps either on my chest or in a cradle swing, never in her pack and play (which we had set up in our room for the first 6 months).  I would highly recomment The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Carp.  We actually only used the CD and I just looped the first three tracks into a continous playlist on iTunes.  Putumayo Kids dreamland CDs are really soothing too and a great way to expose Talia to different languages, rythmes, and sounds.  They have lullabye and active music collections (their "playground" CDs) from cultures around the world. http://www.putumayo.com/en/putumayo_kids.php

Welcome to the group! Always happy to see new dads (especially ones who have such good taste in names).

Ariel

We are still having problems with the bottle. We found one that we think she likes most, and the only way I have been successful is by holding her like I am breast feeding her. Its very frustrating because we can't go out by ourselves until this is concurred and then it makes me worry about day care starting in a couple of months.