Baby Toys' Pricetags

I guess most of not all babies won't really be playing (with a toy) until their 2nd month. They're happy enough playing on their own. My son's playtime involved stretching his arms as if punching in the air. Before his 2nd month, his only toy was a soft rattle (a small caterpillar from Brightstarts). He was happy sitting on his bouncer to watch TV (the colors and moving objects on the screen distract --- and entertain him).

But sooner or later babies will have to play with something else. We only started buying toys when he turned 3 months. We didn't even spend as much, since most of the gifts he got for his Christening were toys, clothes and more toys. So far, here's to give us an idea of how babies' toys cost nowadays (in the Philippines)

1. Brightstarts Musical Play Gym: Hop Along theme (available in other themes) - P2,000.00

2. Brightstarts Tummy Time Turtle Prop - 1,000.00

3. Fisherprice 2-in-1 Turtle Gym - free when you get a Rainforest Jumperoo at Toy Town in Eastwood City Mall

4. Fisherprice Rainforest Jumperoo (available in Precious Planet & Galloping fun themes too) -P11,999.00

5. Fisherprice Cover N' Play Bouncer - P2,700.00

6. Fisherprice Teether - P288.00

7. Brightstarts Soft Rattle: Yellow Caterpillar - P280.00

Eventually he will outgrow these and the rest of his toys. But we plan to keep some of them as memorabilia of his childhood, while others, we may give away or even sell. :)

My Proud Chicken!

The first perfect roasted chicken (at least for me) that I made as an adult was made with McCormick Zesty Garlic Marinade. Alavet!!!

I bought a medium whole chicken from the supermarket, drizzled it with olive oil, sprinkled it with the Zesty Garlic Marinade powder, popped a bundle of Lemongrass (Tanglad in the Philippines) into its insides to help the chicken absorb the flavor. I stuffed about 2 slices of lemon for a little more tang. Left it for about 30 minutes then popped it into the rotisserie I got from my wedding. I let it sit there for 45 minutes at 230 degrees and flipped it to cook the other side for another 45 minutes without changing the temperature.

It was an experiment really. The chicken turned out to be really tender and really juicy. Full of flavor --- my husband thought I bought it from somewhere and claimed all the fame and glory.
Finally, a recipe I can call "half my own".

Oh, and I took the leftover juice from the rotisserie tray, heated it up in the stove, added a bit of flour and presto --- I got sauce!

;)

The Boy Pilot: A Story of Reincarnation

One night when I was checking out videos on Youtube, I saw an amazing story of an 8-year old boy who started remembering things when he was 2 years old. Things that never happened to him --- at least not in this lifetime.

James Leininger is a little boy who has a peculiar passion and interest in planes. Particularly, war planes. James is the first son of Bruce and Angela Leininger of Baton Rouge, LA.

At first glance, James seems like a typical boy. Playful, imaginative and curious. However, when his deep fascination with war planes suddenly started giving him nightmares, his parents were alarmed. James, then about the age of 2, did not know how to read. He would flip through books and could only appreciate the photographs. One instance, when his mother brought him to a small World War II Museum, he pointed to a green plane and said, "That's a corsair".

One instance, Angela bought him a toy plane. While playing, his mom said "Oh look sweetie, there's a bomb in the belly of the plane." But James corrected her, "No mom that's not a bomb. That's a droptank." Much to her mother's surpise, little James' claim --- at that time barely 4 , had no idea how to read and had never seen or heard of any World War II stories before, turned out to be correct.

This baffled and worried Bruce. One night. he decided to talk to his son before he went to bed, while he was very, very sleepy. Little James started to tell stories that had so much detail. He said he once flew a plane, a corsair. His plane got shot in the nozzle by the Japanese and crashed in the ocean. He remembers a good friend, Captain Jack Larson and their planes took off from a big ship in the middle of the sea. Little James said they called it "Netoma".

His parents were concerned all right, but not until James was almost 5 and started doodling, writing his name with a number 3 (James 3) did they decide to do something about it. Bruce started to research on whatever he could to get answers to where his son might be getting his stories, memories, claims. The results of his search, according to Bruce, shook him to the core.

Bruce and Angela found out that there is a very huge possibility that their son James was reliving the life of Lt. James McCready Huston Jr., a 21-year-old Navy pilot who died in March 1945 during World War II when his plane was shot down by the Japanese. His plane took off from a battleship called Netoma. And it turned out that Captain Jack Larson, the friend James was talking about, does exist and actually is still very much alive.

This possibly was the reason why James wrote 3 every after he writes his name. He always says "because I'm the 3rd James." Lt. James McCready Huston --- was a Jr.
Experts say children remember their past lives the most in clearest detail when they are between ages 2 -7 and gradually fades after they start attending school, when they start to get exposed to other stimulus. I am a mother of a young boy, too. I'm not saying I believe reincarnation now. But then again, I don't have a reason not to, either.

Daddy Time

My husband works night shifts like I do, but I get off work on schedule while he usually leaves early and gets home late because of the workload and demands.

However, I make sure that Fridays (1 of his 2 rest days) is dedicated to Daddy Day. This does not mean that he's in charge of taking care of our son, diaper duty and so on but just quality time with him. They watch TV together, spend time playing, he feeds him lunch, and go out for a stroll.

I think it's important that he grows up knowing his father, no matter how busy he is. During normal workdays, we spend time with the little man no more than 3 hours a day, and that's divided: An hour before we leave, about 2 hours before we doze off. One of our primary concerns as working parents is that we may be raising a parentless child. To make sure we don't, one way is to strictly follow our scheduled Mommy Days and Daddy Days.

Activities during these days do not have to be expensive, tiring or strictly planned. Just spending time with our little one, no matter the activity (sometimes when I make dinner, I make my little man sit on his bouncer to watch me as I talk to him), what's important is that we are visible and he feels us.

We have a nanny that looks after him during the days and times when we can't. But when we can, we make sure we DO.

;)

Supermarket Secrets Revealed

I like grocery shopping. Especially in big supermarkets. It's a great workout. I get to walk an estimated 2 kilometers (depending on the size of the place) per shopping day.

I don't shop in just 1 supermarket. No particular reason, i just don't. This is what made me notice a few things.

1. All the supermarkets I shop at have their on-sale items by the entrance, and these on-sale items are of the Supermarket's own personal brand. To give you an idea, my favorite SM Supermarket's "Bonus" items, which are really good buys, are always placed by the entrance near the shopping carts. Hmmm, i wonder why...

2. In the Candies and Chocolates aisle, the interestingly packaged and colorful ones are placed in the lowest shelves where they're within kids' eye level and easy for them to grab. They put the expensive and high-end chocolates and candies at the middle to the top shelves, where they're easily seen by adults. So watch what your little one tosses in your shopping cart!

3. Impulse Products - while waiting for your turn at the checkout counter, you tend to review your shopping cart for anything you've missed out on. So while waiting in line, you see a stack of products that you don't regularly buy ---such as batteries, toothbrushes, shavers. Then we think as we wait "do i need to change my clock's batteries? When was the last time I changed them?Yeah, i think i do..." --- lo and behold, they're right there.

4. The items that we do regularly buy, such as meat, fish, chicken, vegetables, laundry detergents, shampoo and soaps, are put in the far most lanes. Almost at the end of the supermarket. Ever wonder why? I have. I think that's to make us go between the lanes of items we did not really go to the supermarket for (and end up buying them) ---- before reaching the lane of items we really planned on buying. Talk about technique! :)

Best Bet for a First Pet

My sweet Shih Tzu Diego used to live with us when my husband and I were still living at a condo unit. We didn't have our son then. Diego was our baby. He even behaved like one. Very quiet, always sleeping, and loved to ball up on the couch as I watched TV.

We had to give him away after I gave birth to my son. Shih Tzus are a great breed, but they can be very jealous. At least from my experience. Diego never liked it when I play with the neighbor's dogs.

I guess if I were to choose my son's first pet, it would be a Golden Retriever. I hear they're great with kids. Friends who've experienced having one say that they don't get annoyed easily and although they're a large breed, they say they make a good company. Maybe not as "lightweight" and "portable" as a shih tzu, but less manageable.

Price ranges from P8,000 to a whopping P35,000 or even higher depending on the quality of the breed and the sire.

Playpen VS Crib

They say that traditional wooden cribs are more sturdy, lasts longer and are heavy duty compared to the what now seems to be a more popular alternative, the Playpen.

They cost almost the same, price ranging from P5,000 - to the higher class P19,000 --- depending on the brand.

Let's do Pros and Cons, shall we?
PLAYPEN
1. Playpens are made of softer materials --- steel legs are hidden over cushioned covers of colorful patterns. So no worries of baby bumping his head when inside the playpen. Some playpens also have musical toys to entertain the baby or put them to sleep.

2. Playpens are nicer to look at --- especially with the wide variety of color choice, themes and prints to match the baby's room and even gender.

3. Playpens are 2-in-1--- may be used as a crib and when the bassinet is lowered it turns into a playpen. Some playpens come with a changing table for changing diapers as well, although they cost a bit more.

4. Playpens fold - yes, they are easy to dismantle and simple to pack. Playpens from brands like Graco come with carrying bags.

5. Playpens have weight limits - Yep, playpens are not made of hard wood so there is a weight limit on how much it can carry. Although some playpens may be used from birth to 3 years of age.

6. Playpens' bassinets may dip - My son's playpen has been around for only 4 months and its bassinet (where the baby lies down to sleep) has already dipped in the middle where most of his weight is on when lying down.


TRADITIONAL CRIBS
1. There are 2 kinds of cribs we mostly choose from--- convertible baby cribs and the standard baby cribs.

2. Convertible baby cribs have adjustable features that last until the childhood years.

3. Standard baby cribs and convertible cribs are most of the time made of hard wood, therefore more durable --- even if the child is a bit on the heavier side or is very active. But then this depends on what wood it is made of. It may be sturdy --- yet heavy and lightweight --- yet easily broken.

4. Because they are made of wood, they may be decorated and matched with different colored beddings, and will match most furniture at home or in the baby room.

5. Traditional cribs are very easy to find -- or to have made by a good carpenter --- and they cost just a bit less than the modern Playpens. (Wooden cribs are all around Caloocan's furniture strip!)

6. Standard cribs may convert to a toddler bed or a day bed with a headboard and a footboard ready.

7. Traditional cribs may be heavyweight, therefore not very easy to carry from room to room and may require extra effort and time to pack.

When choosing the right place to sleep for your little one, always consider their age, your lifestyle, the space or room, their attitude (active, reserved, etc.) and of course, your budget.

Good Luck!