9 months old!

Liam has reached 9 months!

3 more months and he is officially a toddler. My little baby is a toddler!
He is entering the 'difficult' stage. Eating is a problem right now. Sigh. Why are my kids like that??

We started solids when he turned 6 months. Till today he doesn't really like them! Of the 3 he is definitely the worst.

I'm at my wits end at the moment and am trying hard not to freak out about it. Of course it doesn't help that he hasn't gained a single gram since the end of December. How is it he can put on weight so easily for the first 6 months of his life and then struggle to even gain 100g in the next 6? It's bloody ridiculous. I had a lot of internal struggle as to whether he needs more milk? More solids? being a breastfed baby I felt a lot of responsibility -- maybe my supply sucks?? Maybe my milk is too watery or something?? Should he start some formula?

Anyway.. I trawled the internet for more information and the message is mixed. Obviously the pro-breastfeeding people say that milk is all they need for the first year and solids is 'just for fun', and other sites say that they need the solids more towards the end of the first year.

I think I'm probably going to try and encourage him to eat more, but it's really tough. Patience is probably what we need. Hopefully one day he will come to like food.  Annika is finally mostly over this phase. At 3.5! Sigh.

Work is also a source of stress.. the clinic feels like it's another kid!
We've completed the clinic renovations and the place looks much nicer, but I guess it'll take awhile for people to start coming back. And also, I probably need to spend more hours sitting at the clinic... which is another reason why Liam has to eat more and drink less.

For all these reasons I'm quite sure Liam is our last kid. After Annika I entertained the thought of having 4, but I'm definitely not a chilled out/relaxed sort of mamma. I'm really tired of being stressed out over the kids and stressing out over feeding/napping issues. The older kids are at a good stage now, and I'm looking forward to being able to do more stuff like ski and travel with them all. The clinic would suffice as my 4th!

Moving forward: Liam, please start eating better so I can worry less about you, Clinic, please pick up so that I can also worry less about you! Annika and Madison: Enjoy your pre school days... they are running out fast!