Review on Baby Can Read

I remember when my niece was less than a year old, my cousin and aunts used to play classical music because as they say, it helps the baby's brain to develop.  There's no harm in trying, however I wasn't able to do this to my daughter.  Instead, I looked for learning materials to be used for my little one that we will both enjoy using.

I stumbled on Mommy Kat's blog ( Hi Mommy Kat! :D ) and found her Baby Can Read post.  Like her, I read first the reviews before purchasing and true enough that there are a lot of people who are against on this product.  Lazy to look for another learning materials, and I still believed that this program is effective with the help of parents or anyone who is willing to study with the baby.

Bought from @ohbabyph (IG account)

Fast forward to using the materials, I must say that this program is really effective.  In 2 weeks straight that she watched the starter video, she already recognizes the words Hi, arms up, cats, dog, mouth, eyes, gorilla, elephant, nose and other words included in the video!  By the way, she was only 7 months and 3 weeks when she got the perfect score! No there's no scoring on this one, what I mean is, she picked all the correct words.  Sad part is, I can't upload her video due to my slow internet connection.

Though this is kinda expensive, I considered buying the Baby Can Read as an investment.  I even asked my hubby that when I'm already in Canada, to please continue teaching Peycie using these learning materials whenever he has free time because I can see her interest in studying.

Japan Visa Application

As mentioned in my previous posts, I worked in a travel agency and it gave me an opportunity to handle different types of visa application.  When I was transferred to our Documentation Department, the country that I first handled was Japan that's why I am kind of familiar with the requirements in applying for Japan visa.

In 2007, Japan Embassy only receives visa application from their accredited agencies and our company is one of them.  Come 2009, the Japan embassy retains only those agencies who have Japanese employees and sadly, we are not included.  Just to give you an idea, here are the requirements in applying for a Japan tourist visa (without guarantor):

-Filled-out application form
         Don't leave any blank.  If you do not have a hotel booking yet, just search online for a name, address and telephone number of a hotel in the city you'll visit.  If you'll visit multiple cities, it's okay to just put one hotel details.

-Original passport
       Passport must be 6 months valid. Include your old passport if you have previous used Japan visa

-2 pcs. 2x2 photo, white background
       The Japan embassy is not as strict as U.S. Embassy that you must have a neutral facial expression and wearing collared shirt.  The photos I submitted were taken in 2013, just wearing a shirt and with all my upper teeth shown. LOL

-Birth Certificate/Marriage Contract from NSO
        These must be issued within a year, which means, if you availed your NSO birth certificate in September 15, 2014, you can still use this in applying for a visa until September 8, 2015.  Yes, it is advisable to put at least a one week allowance before it expires.  To give you an idea on how to check when your NSO birth certificate was issued, check the bottom left of your NSO copy and look on the last 11 digits below the barcode.  Format is mmddyy.  This also applies for Marriage Contract.  Only married women are required to submit.

*If your birth is late registered, additional requirements are: Baptismal Certificate and Form-137

*If the applicant has been to Japan and his old passport with used Japan visa issued in the Philippines is in his possession, he is exempted from submitting the birth certificate and marriage contract.  He only needs to submit the old passport.

-Bank Certificate
         There is no specific amount the embassy requires in submitting a bank certificate. What we usually advise, an applicant must have at least 100k in his account.  Japan is really expensive!

-Certificate of Employment
          This should be issued within the last 3 months prior your application

-Photocopy of ITR

-Day-to-Day itinerary
       If your agency is as generous enough as our company, they'll provide this for you.  But if not, there is Mr. Google to help you. :)

The visa fee for tourist is GRATIS, which means you will only pay the service fee of the agency.  This varies, there is an agency who will only charge you P800, while others range from P1,000-P2,000.  Processing takes 5 working days, but in my case, it only took 3 days.  Day 1-submitted to the accredited agency, Day 2- They forwarded it to the embassy, Day 3- released from the embassy.

The accredited agencies will tell you that the visa processing takes 7 working days but you may follow-up on the 3rd or 4th day.  If it is not released by then, there might be verifications with your documents.

Japan is one of the countries that is easy to apply for a visa, especially now that they're inviting tourists. :)

Growth Hormones

Do you still remember your mom saying "matulog ka ng tanghali, sige ka hindi ka la laki!" ?  Well, my mom used to tell this to us whenever we choose playing over sleeping.  It's just last week that I learned that it's true!  It was my sister-in-law (Peycie 's pedia) who proves that my mom is not telling a lie.

Photo courtesy of Google

We discussed about this because Peycie did not get taller from her last check-up.  However, my SIL made me not to worry since the rate of the babies' length is slower than their weight.  The advice we received from her is let our baby sleeps during SIESTA time as this is when the growth hormones release more.

This is kinda challenging for me because this is her favourite time of the day to play.  But lately, I practice her sleeping after lunch which makes her sleep for an hour.  This is quite short, but I know she will adapt this in time. :)

Anti-Mosquito Patches

Yesterday, my MIL and I went to Clark to buy some stuff.  While checking on the items in the baby's  section, there was this one thing that caught my attention and that was the Anti-Mosquito Patches.  Out of curiosity, I bought it.  It consists of 12 patches and comes with 4 pieces free. :)  What is with this insect repellent that makes it effective?  It is the citronella scent that makes the mosquitoes and insects away!

In the instructions, you'll simply put it on your baby's clothes but not directly on skin.  I tried sticking it first outside her crib and if we're out of the house, I'll put it at the back of her clothes or anywhere she can't reach to avoid her putting it in her mouth.

These cute patches which have different designs to choose from only costs P85 which is roughly less than P10 each. :)

P.S. Don't forget to wash your hands after touching it. :)

Headbands!!!!

The moment I knew that we are having a baby girl, I started looking for headbands online. I find those cutie patooties wearing big bows adorable and I want my little one to wear those headbands as well.  Whenever I am in the mall, I never missed the accessories area.  I don't go home without at least 1 piece for her. 

It's some kind of my habit already buying headbands. ☺  Just this morning, my mom reminded me to control myself from buying these things and prepare for Peycie's future.  Yeah right, I got your point mom! But hey, I can't resist buying it for her! Ha ha

Peycie's growing collection ☺

 
Well, last week might be my last purchase.  Since I'm a Stay-At-Home-Mom starting tomorrow (loveeeet!), I'm planning to personally make headbands for her.  Who knows, I might fall in love making headbands and I guess, it won't be bad to make money out of it, right? ☺

Planning our Japan trip

Every year I see to it that I go to place/s that I haven't been to, locally or internationally.  This time, I decided to visit the Land of the Rising Sun. :) Initially, I will be traveling with my officemates but since I'll be away from my husband for 2 years (or more), I asked him if we could travel together or spend Peycie 's first birthday in Japan.  He agreed, however he doesn't want to bring our little girl with us since she can't appreciate it yet.

I haven't booked anything, and so as my ticket to Canada :p I'm still waiting for the Travel Madness this coming July 3-5. ☺  Meanwhile, I am busy preparing for our itinerary.  Mr. C and I want to visit Hokkaido or Kyoto, but still weighing the expenses for the both cities. 

Hokkaido is known for its scenic views and we are targeting the photo below.  Personally, I really want to take pictures with these flowers.  Feels like I'm in Holland!

Photo courtesy of Google

Hubby and I also want to experience the traditional life of a Japanese.  This is the main reason why we want to visit Kyoto.  Who doesn't want to live at least for a day in Ryokan, try their Onsen and walk along the city seeing Geisha? :)  Hopefully by end of this month we're already decided which city to visit and share with you our experience. ☺

Sweet Potato!

I bet all mothers are very excited to witness their babies eating their first solid food! Prior our little girl's 6th month, I bought her a booster seat to train Peycie the proper way to sit while eating and to have her join in our meal. 

Before sharing how it went, let me tell you why I chose booster seat over high chair.  Reading some reviews, most moms prefer to use booster seat simply because it's space saver and personally, I feel it safer than the high chair.

Peycie's first solid food is sweet potato.  We steamed it, mashed and mixed it with little milk and water and in all fairness to her, she loved it!  We had her tried it for a week, potato on the next and we are now introducing her the banana. :) 

She liked the mashed sweet potato though it doesn't show in her pictures because she just woke up. Hehe ☺

Happy feeding! :)