Baby Shower and Birth Gifts

I know my SIL loved actually receiving something nice for her. All the stuff she got was for the baby except from us, we got her the usual baby outfit, and also some nice stuff for her, a nice foot treatment for her foot spa and some other smellies from the body shop. She loved it.

Ooooo I just thought of something else regarding pressies for Mums. I agree with you Sarah Beth, loved getting some goodies for me, only problem is that I got about 10 sets of bath and shower gels etc. Ended up giving half of them away.

But... I remember having to go out shopping for new clothes as I didn't have any that fit me in post-baby mode... so maybe clothing vouchers as a pressie. Hrmmm...

or a facial voucher, mmm facial. And perhaps homemade ones for things like a home cooked meal, baby sitting, cleaning etc

oh, I in no way found cut down!

believe me, I am too tired to even notice today!

ohhh yes facial would be good. I actually have one booked for 3 weeks away (and is a freebie from clinique for being such a great (AKA big spender) customer)

A house Cleaner for a day is what my MIL gave me.

From Meticulous Maids!

Ooh i loved getting stuff for me that i'd never usually buy myself, mum found out what type of face scrub and body wash and moisturisers etc i used and bought me that type of thing so that i wouldn't run out after bubs was born - cos if you're tight on money post baby those are the first things to go.

One thing i found really nice was that for Paris's 1st birthday, an old friend of mine got some clothes voushers for tnt for Paris, but she got me some gift vouchers for farmers.. i thought was the nicest thing ever.. cos yep you do need new clothes post baby, but alot of the time you are still b/feeding or trying to loose the tummy, by the time they turn 1 your body is usually starting to get back to some semblance of normal and that's when i found i needed new clothes the most.

For my sisters i used to do HUGE gifts for their baby showers: Mum would knit a set for me to put with it, booties, hat, matinee jacket.. in kewl wool, not nana-ish stuff. I would buy at sales for ages beforehand, and get 5 of most things, 5 singlets, pairs of socks, bodysuits, and a few stretch n grow/fleece sleep suyits in newborn (if it was a winter baby), as well as the powder, baby shampoo, nappies, pins, cotton buds and a teddy for bubs, nail clippers, hair brush set, and i would buy some baby towels and stick them in the bottom of a new baby bath (agreed with them first that i'd get them the baby bath) and also would add some nice stuff for mum too like choccys and some pampery type stuff. it was pretty much like a "start-up" pack, lol.   And all in all, it never really cost me too much more than approx $50, cos i got it all on sales... not that i'm cheap, just like to get lots for my money.

I just got my new niece a rash suit for swimming when she is bigger. it was $3 at the Warehouse! Woohoo.

For me, I loved clothes but had so many for Taine from Jake, that I wasn't quite sure what we needed. I always appreciated clothing in bigger sizes. Photo albulms, dvds for kiddies, and at the moment we are collecting these plastic animals made in Germany. They are $10 each but such good quality. I'm planing to give a smallish set of those to her as well.

Emma - you're in for a real treat, I absolutely *adore* my Bella Mama massages, we booked a package of six and I still have three to go. Complete bliss, and the ladies who work there are really lovely.