9 month update: Breastfeeding

I have to say, I wasn't sure that we'd make it this far.

Ethan was 9 months old on June 20th. He continues to breastfeed like a champ.

We did start solids at 7 months 2 weeks. As expected, he was much more interested at this time than he was at 6 months. He was sitting up unassisted (even if it was only for a minute or two, not 20+ at a time), he was watching me eat things, and he was putting things into his mouth with accuracy.

Although him eating makes me nervous, he does a pretty good job mashing things up when he puts it into his mouth by himself. We did a bit of a combo of finger foods and semi-solid purees and food pouches. The most difficult thing for him is when we spoon feed him things that have chunks. He tries to swallow anything from a spoon without chewing and then gags/coughs. His favorite thing has to be yogurt. He loves it and gobbles it down. We made an effort to try new things only sporadically, but he has had no reaction to anything, so we've become less cautious and he continues to do well. He doesn't quite eat what we do, but has joined our meals most of the time.

Ethan continues to breastfeed multiple times a day, usually around 7 AM, 5 PM and 7 PM, and usually once in the middle of the night, rarely twice in the middle of the night. He has yet to sleep through the night at this point. I don't mind it though, I love hanging out with him and once in the middle of the night is just fine by me. He also still gets 2-3 bottles of expressed milk in a bottle while I'm at work and he's hanging out with Nate at home. I pump at lunch at work and usually at 5 PM.

Ethan got his first two teeth the day that we moved into our rental (May 2nd) at about 7.5 months. Both bottom front teeth cut the same day... ;( ... it was rough for all of us. Then 6 weeks later, he got his top two teeth the same day (June 16). I got a pick the night before...owie!

Also, I have been bitten. He never clamped down without teeth, but he tried his luck a few times with those sharp little daggers. I wasn't ready for it the first time and may have reacted poorly. I yelped, it scared him. I broke the seal and put him in his crib crying a bit. It took me a minute to make sure I wasn't bleeding. When I was sure I was ok, I picked him back up and we continued. He was a bit tenuous at first, but didn't bite again that night. He's probably tried 2 more times, but I was more prepared and noticed he tried when he is done eating and bored and ready to go to bed.I hope we can continue without any biting!