Just showing off here cos I'm dead chuffed. He was eating dahl type stuff (only thicker) and I was about to spread it on oatcakes as usual when I suddenly thought 'I wonder if he could manage a spoon'. So I loaded up a spoon and put it on the table in front of him. He picked it up (in the middle of the handle) and put the business end in his mouth (sideways, but cos it was sticky it didn't fall off). He gets about 80% in his mouth and even seems to prefer it to his fingers - every now and then he'd pick a bit up with his fingers and then go back to the spoon - seemed to realise he got more that way. It wouldn't work with anything very runny or slippery but I'm so proud of him! Especially as he's been a very reluctant eater.
Now everybody tell me this is nothing to be excited about and your LO ate with a knife and fork at 9 months...