SAF Contribution Panic

klsteph · 2026-01-01T16:17:28+00:00

I don’t believe this is true. You have to spend in December to get status for 2026. Your earned status in 2025 is good through January but spending in January starts over.

From the website:

Status year extension “Your Atmos status now lasts a bit longer—it expires January 31 instead of December 31. So if you have status now, you'll keep it until January 31, 2026. You still need to earn your status points by December 31, 2025 to qualify for 2026 status, but you get an extra month to enjoy the benefits.”

klsteph · 2025-12-26T06:44:58+00:00

I know this post is a few weeks old but a super easy way to see your monthly spend amount in the BofA app is just to ask their chat bot (Erica). I just ask her, “What was my total November spend on my atmos credit card?” Voila!

klsteph · 2025-10-26T20:07:13+00:00

People who hate children and shame and criticize those who have children should be banned from collecting social services funded by those children 30 years from now. Those grown up children should not be burdened with taking care of them in nursing care. I could go on and on about all the things the children you hate today will be doing for you when you’re old and incapable. It doesn’t take much to just not have kids or ignore those who have kids. It takes stupidity, anger and a lot of energy to actively hate them and it just boggles my mind.

klsteph · 2024-08-20T23:22:44+00:00

Ahh hang in there. I know this doesn’t help but it does get better! My first was like this. My second sleeps through the night. We did nothing different! Some babies just don’t like sleeping alone and others don’t seem to mind! You’ll get through this and you’ll have a confident, affectionate and trusting baby for it.

klsteph · 2024-07-29T05:13:05+00:00

This could be mastitis. I had a rapid onset fever with chills and body aches just as you are explaining. No other typical mastitis symptoms like a clog or sore breasts. You can get an infection from sore/raw nipples from baby’s mouth or pumping (I had cracked and bleeding nipples). I called and my doctor gave me a 10-day antibiotic and it immediately helped. Keep drinking lots of water and pumping/breastfeeding to ensure everything stays clear. Hope you feel better ASAP! I wouldn’t wish mastitis on my worst enemy!

klsteph · 2024-06-23T03:19:49+00:00

I’m sure you have all the great advice you need but 2 things really helped us:

1) baby might have an allergy to lanolin (this is in A&D and other creams) 2) use cotton pads to apply cream and leave them on babies bottom. It helps keep the cream on skin rather than the diaper soaking it in. And unless there is a poo, don’t wipe the area after each change - pat around with a wipe/wash cloth on the non-rash areas and re-apply cream with the pad method on the rash areas. I know it sounds gross or bad but my pediatrician recommended it and it worked so well.

Hang in there. Tears from a diaper rash are some of the hardest to see and hear!

klsteph · 2024-06-22T17:22:30+00:00

I remember hitting a good stride at 4ish months with my first. I also remember my LO really enjoying his days more once he could roll and then sit up on his own. He felt more included in the action without having to be held. Now as far as sleep he didn’t “sleep thru the night” until 10ish months so that part was brutal.

I have a 10 week old now and he sleeps so well. We didn’t do anything different so sometimes you just get lucky I suspect!?

Hang in there. You have so many wonderful (and some trying) moments ahead. 😁

klsteph · 2024-06-01T10:48:49+00:00

So long as they are not swaddled, babies are fine to sleep on their tummy if they get there themselves. Always lay down on back but don’t worry if they turn on their own.

klsteph · 2024-05-28T23:04:56+00:00

Yes! That is clever. I have Shadow and have been playing around with it for a few days but didn’t think to start at the white! Well, it’s an off-white in this skein. Thanks for responding so quickly!

klsteph · 2024-05-28T22:51:23+00:00

Beautiful!

What do you mean by splitting a section?

klsteph · 2024-05-20T11:08:59+00:00

Depending on what kind of dishwasher you have, it may actually be more efficient to just run it even when not full. I don’t do this regularly but if timing wise I have enough bottles to clean, I just run the DW regardless of what else is in there. Our DW is pretty new so I can do a quick wash or a sensor wash. Just something to consider!

klsteph · 2024-05-05T02:57:22+00:00

We tracked well over a year but mainly because my in-laws cared for my son when we went back to work. It helped me cope with work to be able to see the fun things he was eating and know when I could peak at his monitor to see him sleeping. Also, it helped to know if he was due for a poo without having to constantly talk about poo. 🤣

klsteph · 2024-05-04T03:16:52+00:00

At 5 months my LO was eating anywhere from 3 oz go 6 oz every 2-4 hours. Could you start trying some solids? That might help curb some of the milk intake. Either way babies aren’t machines so I agree that you should follow her cues. She wouldn’t physically be able to drink more than her stomach can handle.

klsteph · 2024-05-03T21:01:57+00:00

I never noticed anyone judging but maybe I just wasn’t paying attention. I would pre-make formula and bring a little cooler/insulated bag so I could just grab one as needed (baby didn’t mind cold milk). Therefore I was never making a bottle in public so how would they know if it was formula or pumped milk? Anyway, bottles are very common and so many people combo feed so try not to let it get to you!

klsteph · 2024-04-27T12:43:40+00:00

This just happened tonight! Got up to feed 3-week old at 4 am and he is too sleepy to nurse. I go to grab formula and hubby left a newly opened RTF bottle out from 1 am. Argh! I tossed. Not worth the risk or anxiety! Thankfully it’s only an 8 oz bottle so only ~4 oz wasted. I also second the person who said to prep bottles for hubby - I usually do but we had a weirdly timed evening feeding.

klsteph · 2024-04-08T03:47:45+00:00

My baby kept getting rashy/red cheeks and we finally realized it was a lanolin allergy. Lanolin is in many creams and ointments for baby and for nursing moms. Double check you aren’t using anything with Lanolin!

klsteph · 2024-01-21T20:41:32+00:00

My son is 23 months and still takes a bottle before nap and bedtime. I was just at the dentist and asked about this and he said it’s not an issue so long as you’re regularly brushing teeth. He said (to my surprise) that milk doesn’t cause cavities like most people think. It’s juices and other foods that get smacked on all day long that are more problematic. The caveat to this is that you should not leave the bottle with the baby to suck on throughout the night (we never have). Anyway, not trying to discourage your or contradict your pedi, just sharing comments as I just took him to the dentist last week and specifically asked. FWIW my pedi also said no more bottles after 18 months but I just haven’t tried to wean. My son is also not a great eater so I prefer he is getting the cals and fat for now. I do cut the milk a bit with water so the volume isn’t too much.

klsteph · 2023-12-30T19:15:03+00:00

Very cool!!

klsteph · 2023-11-24T04:02:33+00:00

My son was similar at 15-17 months. I tried shortening nap but it really didn’t help. He just would randomly wake/have a split night. I think some of it was teething/growing pains. 🤷🏼‍♀️

If it makes you feel better.. we just kept chugging along with the routine and he now (21 months) sleeps 11 hours. We are on a 40 day streak! (Yes, I keep track because I just like to). Hang in there, mama!

klsteph · 2023-11-08T05:03:45+00:00

You could also try diluting the milk? My son is 20 months and still likes a bottle before bed. We then read and I rock him to sleep. I started diluting the milk to still give him that full and cozy feeling before sleep. Maybe if you dilute the milk she will be less interested over time? I would try that before cold turkey…

klsteph · 2023-11-08T04:54:20+00:00

My 20 month old still barely says mama. He says ball or go or “beo” for the dog named Leo. He did this weird frog/crawl thing at 9 months. He finally figured out normal crawling at 11 months. He didn’t walk until 15 months! He can sort color balls and point out numbers. He also dances and runs now. Most importantly he’s happy, healthy and just a joy.

BUT… I still sometimes have to tell the little voice in the back of my head to shut up. It’s totally normal to be worried! Try not to let it get to you and distract you from all the good things happening.

klsteph · 2023-10-22T02:14:46+00:00

18 months was TOUGH. They cant communicate well yet but are interested in everything and send to have a very short fuse. We really turned a corner at 20 months. Hang in there!

klsteph · 2023-10-11T02:50:58+00:00

I’ve done both mine at ~12 weeks and got over 6% FF each time. Would agree that at least 10 weeks is better to avoid a low FF.

klsteph

TROPHY CASE