only just saw this thread it may be a bit late but oh well...

we started DD on BLS at about 6 months, she is fully FF too. by about 9 months she stopped putting on weight so i began giving her mashed stuff too but it was good caus she'd been doing BLS for a few months so could handle quite chunky food iykwim? so then id give her her BLS meal and if she hadnt eaten much (usually gummed it and threw it on the floor) id offer some mashed stuff too... seems to work well even now...

as for water, i taught her to use a sippy cup and hold it herslef at 9 months and i just have it within arms reach qhenever shes awake and she just helps herself... HTH