No child's scrapbook left behind.

My mom made a scrapbook for all seven of us kids. So when I had my first child, I too embarked on the memory making journey. Within six months, Ally’s book was so full of photos and quotes, I had to buy her a second scrapbook. (You know where this is headed.) Baby number two has half a book. Baby number three has a box. No book.

Blurb.com Saved Me

As the pile of unscrapped photos, school papers, and artwork increases, so does my guilt. I swear (swear, SWEAR), one day I’ll get those scrapbooks caught up. Until then, I’ve been saved by Blurb.com.

With Blurb’s Booksmart software, every month I add pictures and stories to a family memory book. The pages are not as “pretty” as scrapbooked pages, but they aren’t as time-consuming either. And at year’s end, I order a copy of the family book for each child.

I do have a long range goal to give each child an individual scrapbook of their first years, but for now Blurb.com is helping me avoid the feeling that these precious days are flying by unrecorded.

Save Someone Else

Blurb.com also offers gift cards. If you know a mom suffering from scrapbook anxiety, why not give her this time-saving gift as well? A gift card to Blurb.com or any photo book service (e.g. Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc.) would also be great for New Baby, Wedding, Graduation, and other life events where you know photos taken are likely to end up in a pile after the party is over.

Would you expect to receive a car maintenance gift card at your baby shower? Probably not. But DolphinV27 is the winner of the Jiffy Lube gift card contest because I loved her idea for turning the unexpected Jiffy Lube gift card into the perfect gift for an expectant mother.

I’m partial to baby thoughts right now because my little sister, designer of this site, just delivered her first child. Seeing her drive around with the empty car seat in anticipation of the baby’s arrival, reminded me that getting the car ready to safely transport a newborn is just as important as preparing the nursery. (Perhaps even more important!) A Jiffy Lube gift card can help parents do just that.

Another reason I picked this idea is because it’s scalable—you can make the gift elaborate or something quite simple. Dolphin suggests nestling a Jiffy Lube gift card into a new car seat along with a baby blanket and a variety of toddler travel items. Then add a note that reads, “Because you never know where life will take you,” which applies both to cars and to the adventures of parenting.

So that’s a big gift. But a Jiffy Lube gift card accompanied by a single baby travel item (e.g. car shade, sippy cup, travel wipes, etc.) would be less expensive and just as thoughtful.

Thanks DolphinV27 for helping us turn a Jiffy Lube gift card into a thoughtful gift. I’m adding your idea to the New Baby section and will be sending the Jiffy Lube Graduation gift card packet shortly!

Don’t miss the Mother’s Day give away to be announced shortly! Subscribe to this blog or follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss the announcement.

Pampering for Everyone

As you know, my little sister Brooke is expecting a baby. Her co-workers surprised her with a gift certificate to her favorite spa on one of her last days before maternity leave. They cleverly Photoshopped a Pampers diaper logo onto a poster that read, “Pamper Yourself!”

I couldn’t help but copy that SO cute idea in a less graphic-skills-required kind of way. Get your expectant friend a package of Pampers and attach a gift card to a spa or salon so mom and baby both get a little “Pampering!” You’ll be the hit of the baby shower!

This got me thinking about other ways to pair mom gift cards with newborn baby necessities. You could get a pack of baby wipes and a restaurant gift card, then write, “For when you’re too wiped out to cook!” My brain is a swirl with ideas.

Check out the New Baby section for other ideas as well.

A gift card for Mom plus an activity basket for big sister.

My girlfriend Melissa is having her second baby. What I think she’ll need most after delivering this little guy is a BREAK. I got her a gift card to a nearby sandwich shop so she’ll remember to feed herself lunch after the baby comes home (and Daddy goes back to work). I attached the card to a basket of activities for her toddler to play with when Melissa is nursing the new kid in town. (Download the “Take Care of Mommy” gift card holder in the New Baby section.)

Nurture New Mom with a Gift Card Tree

On the subject of baby showers, My sister-in-law just turned the group gift card idea into a fabulous baby shower present. Pooling money from friends, Megan bought gift cards to Target for last-minute baby needs, Panera Bread for comfort food, Jamba Juice to refuel, and Bellissima salon for pampering. She tied each card to a plant that will go in new mom’s kitchen—a lovely reminder of the shower and generousity of good friends.

Find other baby shower ideas in the New Baby section.

The secret to a happy baby
...trust your instincts.

I’m going to a baby shower tomorrow for a first-time mom. April is having a girl so the gift table is sure to be overflowing with oh-so-sweet pink blankets, dresses, nighties, and sockies. Cute as she’ll look in all that, baby girl is going to need practical items as well. I’m getting April a gift card to Target plus some Bag Balm—my secret weapon against diaper rash. There’s nothing glamorous about udder ointment, but darn if April won’t thank me later when the only thing not pink in the house is her newborn baby’s bottom.

Experienced moms like me are often full of advice. But I think the best thing you can give a new mom is a little reassurance. Because no matter what worked for you and yours, her experience is likely to be different. The “Secret Weapon” gift card holder that says, “The secret to a happy baby is…trust your instincts. You’ll do great!”

Download this gift card holder and get other baby shower ideas in the New Baby section.