I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Hoosier John]

You all might be tired of the SFF PPP saga...but I have another installment:

So far today, 9 of my 10 customers from my first comment have gotten SBA Loan#s. Overall, 11 of my 13 have numbers and it seems like the last 2 will get them also so I might just cover 100% of my customers on this program. That would be an AMAZING success story!!!

And that was gonna be my next question to you ... GREAT job! ... I know you care about them and your community and it shows!

 

[Artygal90]

Right now I am sort of kicking myself for my decision to speculatively transfer DH's Amex Plat bonus to Virgin Atlantic a couple of months ago, expecting to be able to redeem those points for two first-class tickets to Japan next spring. My list of reasons why that redemption may not happen did not include a global pandemic threatening the financial well-being of airlines across the world! But, that's a sunk cost, so I'm trying not to feel bad about it. I did top up DH's mileage balance with his remaining MR before we canceled his Plat and so I'm now just 9k miles short of what I would need for ANA business class, as opposed to 59k points short of a first class redemption. I was planning to transfer the balance over from our UR stash, which I value more than MR.

I'd be able to call and book for our desired dates in about 6 weeks, so I'm trying to think about plans now IF VS stays in business and is accepting award bookings at the current rate. If I book the tickets in business and VS goes under, I lose 9k UR. If I book the tickets in first and VS goes under, I lose 59k UR. Is first that much more awesome than business class? This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we've never flown first OR business class before. I'm sure they're both great but part of me wants to hold out for first since it's a bucket list item. We probably won't travel internationally for several years after this trip. I would still have enough URs to cover our planned travel until then even if 59k of them went poof. However, as a born saver I desperately want to hang on to even my imaginary currency . I'm not planning to book if the airline still hasn't secured funding, but am more wondering what to do if they've been bailed out but aren't on 100% secure footing yet. Thoughts? What would you do in my situation?

 

[kylenne]

Waaay late to the baby party (I was sent into work again today ugh) but congrats @Haley R!!! He’s adorable!!!!! I started crying and my mom asked me why. “The lady on our message board had her baby and he’s too cute!”

(I cry at Hallmark commercials btw)

 

[wendow]

Happy for you @SouthFayetteFan! I know how much much this means to get your clients approved for the help they need. Good job

 

[elgerber]

Bonvoy question... I see this on their site. Does this mean my points that would expire this August, will now expire in February? Or that the 2 year clock will start again in February?

Points expiration is paused until February 2021. Starting February 2021, points will begin to expire 24 months after your last activity.

 

[GZanta77]

Right now I am sort of kicking myself for my decision to speculatively transfer DH's Amex Plat bonus to Virgin Atlantic a couple of months ago, expecting to be able to redeem those points for two first-class tickets to Japan next spring. My list of reasons why that redemption may not happen did not include a global pandemic threatening the financial well-being of airlines across the world! But, that's a sunk cost, so I'm trying not to feel bad about it. I did top up DH's mileage balance with his remaining MR before we canceled his Plat and so I'm now just 9k miles short of what I would need for ANA business class, as opposed to 59k points short of a first class redemption. I was planning to transfer the balance over from our UR stash, which I value more than MR.

I'd be able to call and book for our desired dates in about 6 weeks, so I'm trying to think about plans now IF VS stays in business and is accepting award bookings at the current rate. If I book the tickets in business and VS goes under, I lose 9k UR. If I book the tickets in first and VS goes under, I lose 59k UR. Is first that much more awesome than business class? This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we've never flown first OR business class before. I'm sure they're both great but part of me wants to hold out for first since it's a bucket list item. We probably won't travel internationally for several years after this trip. I would still have enough URs to cover our planned travel until then even if 59k of them went poof. However, as a born saver I desperately want to hang on to even my imaginary currency . I'm not planning to book if the airline still hasn't secured funding, but am more wondering what to do if they've been bailed out but aren't on 100% secure footing yet. Thoughts? What would you do in my situation?

As someone who has almost 400,000 VS miles and over $1500 at stake on bookings next winter, I am very concerned that Virgin may not survive this, but hoping that they reach some sort of compromise agreement on funding. Even then, as you rightly alluded to, there is no guarantee they will come out the other side intact. Could be major adjustments to partner awards, for example - though this could be an argument to lock in if the chance presents itself.

Personally, I would not commit any more points/miles/cash to VS than I had to right now, but hopefully someone will come along to offer an opinion on F v J on ANA so you can decide if it is worth risking the additional 50k URs.

 

[disneybirds]

@Haley R He is absolutely adorable!! Enjoy this time with him. They grow so quickly!

 

[Haley R]

Final @Haley R Baby Watch Results:
With 50 entries, no one got the actual time correct. The two closet entries were:
@LynnTH with a time of 9:22 am (so only 1 min late)
@mickey squared with a time of 9:19 am (2 min early)

The good news is 3 entries got the weight correct with 8 lb 1 oz:
@Limes96 , @jenmsmith and @Judique

The majority of the entries were too low with being in the 6-7 lb something range.

Many thanks to everyone who participated but mostly congratulations Haley on your new bundle of joy! Enjoy every minute with him! They grow way too fast! (I am realizing this as my 13 year old prepares to complete 8th grade and heads to high school in the fall!)

The nurses guessed weights too and they all said he’d be under 8. I guessed 8 lb 1 oz so I was off by one ounce. Dh guessed higher than me. I could tell he had gained weight in that last week and felt really big. I just wasn’t showing big.

I’m already sad thinking about him getting bigger. Darn hormones. When I look down at my tummy it makes me sad too

 

[Haley R]

Congratulations! Enjoy your precious blessing. That blanket brings back fond memories.

Haha we kept one from the hospital. We used them as swaddles in the hospital but he seriously is an escape artist. Luckily we have Velcro ones at home that have been a life saver

 

[Haley R]

Just want to jump in here and say that just because it hurts doesn’t necessarily mean he or you are doing something wrong. I know all the experts say that if you are doing it right it shouldn’t hurt, but that was not my experience at all. I wish they would stop saying that because it causes new moms to question whether they are doing it right and worry that the baby is not going to be able to breastfeed. My experience with both of mine was that it didn’t necessarily hurt every second of nursing at the beginning, but your skin is not used to having someone feed from and in the beginning it gets very raw, very sore, and very sensitive. Once your skin toughens up a bit, it no longer hurts at all.

Also, unless the baby is losing weight, don’t worry about your supply (it will regulate to what the baby needs). My second was a major cluster feeder for about the first 4 months, so I feel you there. Congrats again! Good luck on your journey, it’s a wild and amazing ride.

His weight is actually fantastic. I’m not worried about him getting enough at all. He only lost 4% at the hospital and today the pediatrician said he’s already gained weight back. He better have with how often he eats lol

 

[Haley R]

Congrats @Haley R!! Good job, mama! Your son is a cutie pie, welcome to the world little one!

In addition to getting a lactation consultant, maybe ask them to check if he is tongue-tied. My DD was and we didn't know until her first pediatrician appointment.

They checked him at the hospital and again today at the pediatrician and said his tongue looks fine. I think I’m too engorged for him. I tried pumping before a feeding but I don’t think I did it long enough because it didn’t help. We started massaging during and I think that’s helping a ton. His latch isn’t great when that happens but it also doesn’t hurt as bad

 

[Haley R]

@Haley R congrats to both of you!! Such a cutie!!! Also curious about the name.....

Oh shoot I forgot to say his name didn’t I. His name is Elliott after the dragon in Pete’s Dragon

 

[Haley R]

Here’s some new pictures for the day. Obviously he needed some cool shades since we live in Florida. He’s also extremely strong. Neither of us thought a newborn baby would be this strong. He already can hold himself up on our chests

 

[mom2elal]

Oh shoot I forgot to say his name didn’t I. His name is Elliott after the dragon in Pete’s Dragon

That's our ods's name!!!

 

[wendow]

Here’s some new pictures for the day. Obviously he needed some cool shades since we live in Florida. He’s also extremely strong. Neither of us thought a newborn baby would be this strong. He already can hold himself up on our chests

He is so beautiful! You are doing a wonderful job, mama!

 

[wendow]

@Haley R I love his name! Elliott is so cute and such a great subtle nod to your Disney fandom.

 

[mmmears]

Here’s some new pictures for the day. Obviously he needed some cool shades since we live in Florida. He’s also extremely strong. Neither of us thought a newborn baby would be this strong. He already can hold himself up on our chests

What a cutie! Enjoy every minute. It goes by so quickly.

 

[disfanforlife]

@Haley R i love the pictures. He is adorable! What a great name! He does look strong!

 

[ctinct]

@Haley R

What a cutie! He doesn’t even look like a newborn in the picture with the glasses. Love his name, too! A huge congratulations to your family.

 

[ski_mom]

@Haley R he's so precious! Thanks for more pictures! Can't get enough of babies!!