hello to you all?

Buy her chocolates and flowers and lovely things that are for her and not for the baby; once that baby arrives she'll need some pampering while everyone else coos over the baby!

Are there any "Gourment on the Go" type places where you live? They are great especially for new moms because you could go there and prepare meals for her and stick them in her freezer and all she has to do is heat them up-presto fabulous dinner with minimal effort. If you do not have any places like this, along the same lines, really the best thing you can do for her is to provide her company and help her out. It is crazy, but when you get home with a newborn and everyone has returned to their normal life and the new mommy is left trying to deal with a newborn and healing herself, it gets very loney and emotional. Just going and sitting with her a couple hours will help like you could not imagine. If you want, while there, you can also help her do laundry, make dinner, help with baby while she sleeps...lots more important things that she needs rather than a gift that costs money :- ) What a thoughtful friend you are!!!

My neighbor, who we treat like family, will be having her baby any day now. My mother and I have been busy preparing meals for her. We don't need to freeze them since we see the family daily, but frozen meals are definitely a god-send. Also, with a new baby, a mother can be in a zombie like state and have no time to clean. Perhaps you could offer to tidy up the house? If you can afford a gift certificate, a massage or a day at the spa would be great.

I know that after having my baby, I was so glad to have my family and my husband offering to cook, clean, and just let me stay in bed for 7 weeks (doctor's orders, anyways).

Make her some babysitting certificates so that she can call on you if she needs a break. I know that's what I would have loved even the chance of an hour in bed with peace of mind that your baby is being well looked after sounds like sheer bliss.

Here's an idea - we love our Womb Sounds Bear (around 25 dollars, Walmart or online via walmart.com or amazon.com). It is a stuffed teddy bear that attaches to the side of the crib and makes noises reminiscent of the womb. (And it is adorable.. furry and cute, and when Baby is older he or she will have a stuffed animal pal, as the sound box is removable.)

My son is 8.75 months old, and we still put it on for white noise when he is napping or going down for the night.

Another idea are some cooked ahead and frozen meals for the new mommy and daddy... believe me, she will completely appreciate those! :)

Bath stuff? Maybe a gift certificate to get a pedicure? I always love those, especially after giving birth and not being able to reach your feet comfortably for the last few months of pregnancy!

Get her one of those dangly vibrating toys that hang on the car carrier/car seat. We have a bunch of them and at first I thought they were useless but now that my baby is 4 months old he LOVES them!!!! We have 4 of them and trust me, you need a couple of them in case one gets lost. We also hang one from his baby einstein gym and he loves it!!!

Oops, you meant a gift for your friend.....lol....well the above toy is great so get that for the baby too! As for your friend......how about a gift certificate for nails, hair, or a massage? Some sweet smelling bath/body wash and lotion? Give babysitting coupons, housecleaning coupons, cook dinner for her. Anything to make her life a little easier after the baby comes.

Give her things that will make her feel pretty.

This is a time when she is aching to get back into shape and normal size.

Also she will not get much time to look after herself. So something pretty or to make her pretty like dangling earrings, a pretty top/blouse, and such.

Or some face lotions and make up.

cheesy girlie bath stuff.

sure helps when everything is all about baby.

get her a gift certificate so she can get what she still needs