Out of State Family Expecting Second Child.

Hi, A.,

I know you've received lots of ideas, but I didn't see any mentioning music. My favorite gift that I received was a CD - Nicolette Larson singing lullabies. It is a beautiful CD and I played it every night for my son and then my daughter when she was born. They both remember me singing them to sleep with it. The lyrics are lovely. Some of the songs are traditional, but others she wrote herself. It's only $12.00, and I now buy it everytime I go to a baby shower. The moms are always thanking me months afterward, once they've had a chance to listen to it, and realize how sweet it is. The children don't outgrow it, and it's something they'll have for years. My seven year old still asks me to play it once in a while when she's having trouble falling asleep.

Blessings, J.

I've gotten my friends who are on #2, 3, etc baby teething bling. It's cute, functional and they're not likely to have it. Just google baby teething bling. It's a necklace the mom wears that the babies can safely chew on. Tres chic with the hollywood moms (they show a pix of Tori Spelling and others wearing it.) Oh massages/manis/pedis are good too, you can google places near them and probably buy it online or over the phone. Good luck! :)

Make a bunch of meals you can freeze and give them to them for when the baby is born. You can give them the meals anytime you see them between now and when the baby is born as long as they know to reserve some freezer space.

I make things for the people who have everything. I make growth charts, or you can make a personalized box to keep keepsakes in or put on the dresser in the babies room. I have painted those papier mache boxes and put small wooden letters with the baby's name on them. I can't sew or knit, but some of my favorite gifts were a handmade quilt and an afghan. The quilt was nothing fancy, just the squares stitched together with a backing. My cousin used a set of fabric in sock monkey patterns.

If you can knit, a big thing right now are little beanies and floppy hats that have big flowers on them. Or you could make headbands and hairbows. Those add up quickly if you pay retail for them. Headbands can be worn right away, hairbows will have to wait for hair. Go to www.etsy.com for more ideas of handmade items, and you can see what people charge for them to get an idea of their "value" but if you can make them yourself they are so cheap to put together.

Do you sew?? I have several friends who buy inexpensive cloth diapers(like from walmart) and just sew some pretty fabric in a border around it. They were easy straight line sewing and turn out beautifully and you can never have too many burp clothes. You could also buy something like a lovie or baby blanket and have the babies name embroidered on it. I have also bought personalized books for children that use their name. Remember you have at least the month after the birth to get a gift also. If you are interested in books I sell Usborne books and I would recommend the following: The New Baby for the 2 year old and any one of the "Thats not my .. . ". It would cost about $20.00 including shipping to do that and both are phenomenal books. My website is www.snuggleandread.com.

I would suggest you make or buy a hand crochet baby blanket and include a note saying it was to snuggle around the new little one until you are able to hug her yourselves. You don't' need to spend a lot of money for a gift to mean a lot. Someone else suggested books and those are always a hit also. especially if you can find one for the older child about being a big sister/brother type thing.

Michael's always has those 40% coupons in the weekend newspaper. How about getting one of those scrapbook kits from Michaels to start for their new baby? I got one from a friend and I really enjoy scrapbooking all my new baby pictures. I never thought I'd like scrapbooking, but actually I find it very enjoyable and fun. It is one of the best gifts that I received.

Just my 2 cents,

M.

You could find out some restaurants that are in the area that do take out and get a gift certificate. We did this for some friends of ours and included a note about how we would have loved to have made them dinner, by the time we drove it the 6 hours to their house it would have been cold! Good luck!

Got any snow left?
I know it's a little different, but when my daughter was born, a friend of mine happened to be on vacation in Florida. She wrote my daughter's name in the sand and gave me the picture in a refrigerator magnet frame. That is the best gift I got...honest. I enlarged it and framed it and it's hanging in my daughter's room. If you have any snow left, you could write her name in it and take a picture. I know the beach/sand is different than Ohio snow, but it's something unique!! LOL! (although, Georgia HAS had their share of snow this year......... :)

Gift basket. Put it together yourself....buy a cheap basket at Michael's or Big Lots. Then buy little things, I know they add up, but go to places that are not very expensive. (Big Lots, Dollar Store, Family Dollar) Get baby oil, powder in travel sizes that would be good for day trips, get a small toy, buy something for mom, like a small hand lotion, be creative. Do you have kids? Make a small Aunt and Uncle picture book for the baby....or pics of your brother when he was little......just remember you are going to have to ship this and that can be expensive, so try to get things that are light and easy......make it personal.......if you don't want to do the basket, then do a scrapbook of your brother and your family, so then they can decide who the baby looks like. I've been in this position before, so I know what you are going through. Only it was for a wedding. I made a scrapbook and decorated pages in the back for them to use once the baby was born, the first part was pages of them......I used rubber stamps a lot and found cheap things to put on the pages at the above mention stores. They loved it....I thought it was awful.....but they used it and look at it often because they knew I put time into it for them for their special day. Good Luck and don't worry about the money, it's your brother!

I would search the net for those original things like "give your name to a star" or (even better) "save a child" with a contribution - in your case it would not be long distance adoption (since you can't afford it) but it'd give them the idea you did something humane and wonderful for somebody in need in your niece's name. Think about it, sometimes they send back a "diploma" - like document with the name of the donor that your niece can keep as a sake. Also, since they have plently of money, they could choose to send this child money from then after, wouldn't it be fabulous? They usually don't ask for much a year, maybe 50$? I would get more info.

How about sending two books? One for the new baby and one for the 2 year old with handwritten messages by you welcoming baby and congratulating big brother?

Books are never returned (in my opinion, so you don't have to worry about stores near them and you can write in them).

They might appreciate getting something other than clothes which is what most people get.

Do you sew or do any needlework?
My mom always made a "sampler" for each new grandchild. Perhaps you could stitch something for then nursery with the baby's name?

My mom made my son a Winnie the Pooh "sampler" that included his name and birth date, weight and length (height). Of course... to finish it, you'll need that info... but you could do all the other work on it and add that last.

Then frame it. Voila... personalized and not too expensive. And NO way it will be duplicated. ;)

Do they have a registry? If not, I would think any cute girlie outfit would be appreciated - especially something for her to grow into. Go see what you can find on clearance for her to wear next fall or winter, or look for a Christmas outfit.

You've received lots of ideas already - I especially like the snow name one - if you consider doing this, try using a spray/squirt bottle with water and food coloring in it...... I saw this in a Parents magazine and thought it looked like a lot of fun... a way to paint the snow! Some other suggestions - a "family" picture frame. Outfits- one for baby girl, one for big brother - shirts that say best big brother, little sister... this way their son gets something too - sounds like lots of girl things happening in the house - he would love to have something in one of the packages for him and the parents will find them adorable! =) Are they earth-firendly? I loved the cloth diapers I got for my baby..... one was a purple tye-dye - so CUTE! Or - some books...daughter & dad/mom... or even brother/sister.... whatever you decide - they will love... because it is coming from family!

I sent my nephew and his wife ( who are very well off) a gift that you can buy at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. It is a kit to make a plaster mold of the baby's hands and feet and the better ones include paint and decorations. They sent me a thank you card and a picture of the plaster thing. They loved it and it was the only one they got, so no duplication. And under $20.

I once went to a baby shower where everyone was bringing very expensive gifts and I had a very small budget. So I bought a plain shirt for $3 at Walmart and got a package of letters that can be ironed on the shirt for $2 at Hobby Lobby and spelled the words "Big Sister" and added a little princess crown that had beads and could be ironed too for $1.50. You can make a shirt like that for a boy and I was the one that received the most comments at the party for spending all the time making a personal gift. For the baby, get a package of crochet bands at Walmart 5 for $3 and glue some giant flowers. Artificial flowers are about a $1 per bouquet and you can buy little jewels or cute buttons to glue on the center. Those headbands are very trendy and cute! and for mom, go to an Amish store and get some of those dry mix soups that just need water for those days she doesn't have enough energy to make any food! There's a great store in Marysville :)

How about a small savings bond? She can use it in the future in college, young adulthood etc.

Updated

How about a small savings bond? She can use it in the future in college, young adulthood etc.

I agree that a gift basket is a wonderful idea. along with the baby powder and lotion for mom and baby, add a small scented candle and a small stuffed animal, also I found that you can never have enough of those mits that keep them from scratching their faces, a littl girly headband and cutestuff like that. she lso right aout another thing, it doesn't have to be expensive, dollar tree and other stores like that, i also found that flea markets/stock sales have good baby stuff and cute stuff too. it's that fact taht it comes from teh ehartthat matters most. I made one for my cousin who lives in california and live in kentucky (flat rate boxes are great for shipping)

send a card for the baby, and a little gift for the older sibling. the baby doesn't need much, but people often forget that the older child needs some love and special attention.

another thought-- maybe a collage or photo book of your kids and leave some space for theirs, so they can look at and talk about their cousins in ohio.

I second the idea of the handprint kit. Inexpensive and not something she's probably gotten herself and not expensive to ship. It will become a keepsake.

I wouldn't waste money on making a gift basket. I used to make a lot of gift baskets for my mother's clients and it adds up very quickly even going to places like Dollar Tree for the trinkets. To be perfectly honest the quality of the items from the Dollar Tree and such isn't going to be great and they probably won't even get used. And then there's the expense that goes with trying to ship it and have it arrive like you packed it. Unless you've done it before and know how to attach everything, it's going to arrive a jumbled mess.

There is a book called THE TWELVE GIFTS OF BIRTH that is PHENOMINAL!! One of those gifts you keep a lifetime. You COULD even find out the name of the local bookstore, call it and ask them to order it and/or have it shipped if you can't be there. Trust me, she won't get another one like it, either!

I even had a gal tell me she read it to her baby BEFORE he was born MANY MANY TIMES. I gave it to her at her shower.

You can get a fairly cheap photo album, the full sized ones, then on your computer print out scrapbook pages & cut out the holes for the photos, or you can design them on your own & leave the photo holes empty for them to fill in as time goes on.

How about an engraved picture frame or a monogramed blanket? Some can be pricey but most are reasonable. Better yet--what about a baby book filled out with your family's information already--including pictures of 'Auntie, Uncle, and whoever else you feel important'? Good luck.

You could try a search for baby stores in their area. Maybe go on BabiesRUs or Target and see if they are registered. If you can find out where she shops you could get a gift card for her to spend on whatever she needs. Is there any other family that you can ask that would know?