Okay, so I'll be visiting a friend of mine who got married in May (I think). I'll be seeing him and his now expecting wife for the first time since before then.

As some background - this is a really old, close friend, and I called him Opa (Korean for brother)

So the question is - do I get them a wedding gift and a separate gift for the new arrival? Or do I roll it all into one?

And what do I get em? I'm at a loss.... have no idea how these things work.

Any ideas?

Oh, and the only criteria I have is that it has to be useful... I hate getting dust-collecting gifts for ppl

It would help to know what they might want, have already or like.

I would suggest something substantial for the baby. I say substantial to have it count as a belated wedding gift.

Yeah, I've thought of that too...

What do babies need?

I spoke with my Opa today.... they're having a girl!!

What do babies need?

Everything! And at great cost.

Just ask them what they need, this is not a pleasant birthday surprise. If you were buying a wedding gift they might have had a list of required gifts, that you would have picked from, so it wouldn't be bad form to just ask.

I did ask.... and my dear brother has less idea than I!!

I did say that he should let me know if he thinks of something, and all he said was - yeah, we've just started buying baby clothes. That should be it...

Boy is he in for a surprise!

Hahahaha. "Surprise" !? Shock more like.

They will need Nappies, a Pram, nappies, a cot for later, nappies, a crib now, nappies, a baby stroller, nappies......

When's it due?

....nappies,a breast milk pump, nappies....

Ah yes, milk pump is taken care of. I got an unused hand me down from someone else. And lots of baby spoons and little bowl things

They have a cot.

Also have a hand me down stroller, but that will be for much later

Pram.... hmmmm...

I've always had my eye on the McLaren pram....

Nappies eh? If those were cheap, I'd get them a month's supply or something. hehehe

This luxury My First Teddy Kaloo Liliblue personalised gift box has the luxuries for that special babies
first soft cosy Kaloo teddy set.
This gift box comes with the following items:

Personalised pink keepsake box
This is our signature luxury embossed cream gift box with pink lettering, and lots of tissue.
Personalised with your babies name.

Kaloo Liliblue rabbit
What better gift for a baby than this soft, squishy pink rabbit which rattles when it is shaken.

Kaloo Liliblue rabbit doudou.
This gorgeous, luxury, soft velour pink comforter with patchwork flowers. This pink and soft doudou has two flowers and a mini detachable patapouf rabbit sweet for any little girl! Can also be used as a hand puppet, and sooths and comforters tiny hands!

Kaloo Liliblue rabbit booties with rattle.
Size: 0 to 6 months

If this product is to go directly to the proud parents then you can send a personalised message along with your gift.

Is it wrong if I say that's way too pink?

The baby wont mind

She will once she starts hanging out with me!

They will need Nappies, a Pram, nappies, a cot for later, nappies, a crib now, nappies, a baby stroller, nappies......

This is good advice

So general consensus thus far - nappies

Did I mention nappies?

hahahaha

Yesh

yeah a year supply of nappies should do them as long as they are not too pink!  I am with you on the too pink thing dek you can only go so far with that color before the baby is brainwashed!

Oh please! Ladies, ladies, pink is just a colour. Brainwashing indeed!

By this you are just perpetuating the sterotype. Next you'll be saying it's a "gay" colour.

We aren't perpetuating the stereotype... We're diluting it by trying to introduce other colours into a kid's world

why are you stealing the gay word?

pink: blush, coral, flesh, flush, fuchsia, red, rose roseate, salmon????

@Bric: Who's stealing it? Does it belong to someone?

No more than the rainbow I would say....

@dek: there are other colours in a child's world. Only an insane parent would make a little girls world entirely pink.

*Far too hung up on this*

some studies have shown that babies may develop a preference in colors starting as early as 4 months... but more importantly they get bored very easily if shown the same or similar colors time after time during the study!

Walk  into a Pumpkin Patch or other kids clothing store JR - You'll see blues and greens on one side, and pinks and reds on the other.

I once came across a salesperson who refused to sell me a black brown type jacket thing I wanted to get for my niece.

Some people (and it seems a growing population) are buying into the retailers' colour codes

That's their problem not yours, surely?

Why not?

Why should I be made to but something pink when it hurts my eyes?

from the study I referred to above:

When colours are presented in pairs, babies tend to look for the longest amount of time at blue, red, purple and orange and the shortest amount of time at brown, Dr Franklin has found.

 Babies are also less likely to look at brown first when paired with the other colours, suggesting this is their least favourite colour

 "Some babies show a striking preference for just one colour, while others will like a few colours.

But the most important thing, back to the first note, is variety.... not always the same thing!

That I agree with

@dek: who is making you buy anything?

Pink is just a colour, not a girl's colour and it's very old fashioned to think it is, and taking such offence toward it is perpetuating that old fashioned view. Why do you care?

If some one won't sell you something because of its colour then that is their loss.Not yours.

And the pink box of stuffed toys above, it might say "Beth" on it, but where does it say "For Girls Only!" , if you think that that's what pink says then maybe you think all girls should be called Beth?

Believing that pink is for girls and to be rejected because of the stereotyping, is perpetuating the stereotype. The wallpaper for your Tangle is a shade of pink, is that because you are a girl? Of course not.

I disagree with you there.

It is just a colour, yes. But colours convey meanings. Put infant twins of the same gender in different colours (blue and pink for our purposes) and they will be assigned different genders by strangers who come upon them.

My issue with the box was that it was too pink, because I dislike pink (and various other bright colours). My initial aversion to it doesn't have anything to do with the issue that 'pink is for girls'

Believing that pink is for girls and to be rejected because of the stereotyping, is perpetuating the stereotype.

That's the thing. I don't believe it.... But I know others do. And I try and subvert it by rejecting the statement and acting outside that guideline

Look at that....

you try and help Dek and it just starts an argument

As a rule I don't like blue foods

Sushi?

Looks like blue rice krispies and a chocolate biscuit?

Sir M - No arguing... just an exchange of ideas

I would hesitate to call it sushi  - it is a seaweed wrap around rice (but it doesn't look like sushi rice) but that pinkish stuff is spam!)...

It was apparently one of the items delivered to a pot luck dinner at the house of a university researcher who had been doing research on the impact that colour had on the quantities eaten and qualitative feedback given by people... several of his sample foods had been dyed blue as a test of an extreme case (as apart from blueberries and some rare varieties of potato blue is not a natural colour of food) he found that blue foods or even foods served on a blue plate were less satisfying to diners who ate less and reported that the food was not as tasty (of course the colouring had no real effect on the ingrediants that give "taste' to food).

Oh.... yeah, I completely agree... food isn't only about taste. We have 5 senses for a reason

I heard once of a diet called the smelling diet, where you were only aloud to smell the foods you craved and eat on a consistent diet of veggies.  Apparently it works because the smells of the food satisfied enough to get ride of hunger pains.

Buying the right gift takes a lot of practice. If it helps you can buy me lots of stuff and I'll be only too happy to give you some feedback and follow up advice on how things are going.

Heh... As it is I buy more gifts than I receive...

*shaking head*

Soon I'll be working only to cover all the birthdays, weddings, graduations, new arrivals and any other gift giving occasion ppl keep coming up with

I would hesitate to call it sushi  - it is a seaweed wrap around rice (but it doesn't look like sushi rice) but that pinkish stuff is spam!)...

*vomits*

Any better when its not blue?

LOL!

I have to admit, I went thru a spam-crazy in my uni days.... went well with instant noodles or rice and eggs

*retch*

well gag me with a spoon....

At school, many years ago, they would occasionally serve deep-fried battered spam, it was a heart attack sensation!!

It's not all bad.... from what i remember from those days....

I can't bear to look at it in the aisles of the supermarket now, so I share your sentiments JR

Perhaps you just need to spread your wings to different food types:

EEEEWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwww

Or perhaps the blended variety:

ok ... its alright...yes  I'm leaving now......

BRIC!!!

*shaking head*

Awww man... how bad does that look at the end!

Back to the gifts...

What about one of those baby listening devices that plug into the electric wall sockets in the room. Or earplugs for the mum and dad...

How about a baby sitter voucher?

You can, in some places, buy the services of a professional baby sitter in advance, so that when they have had enough (and they will) they can take a night (or several) off.

ooooh... the walkie talkie things!! That's a good one! I didn't think of those

Well JR, I'm pretty sure I'll be the default babysitter, so that's kinda unapplicable

OK.

(Sad cat....)

Oh poor Mr cat....

Don't be sad....

Probably not appropriate here but what about some Lingerie?

It's the gift that keeps on giving is it not?

So I've been told...

(I once bought some for a close friend who got married)

But in this case, my friend is the groom!

Lingerie? It's the gift that keeps on giving is it not?

Keeps on giving?  Ever seen old over washed Lingerie?

*shudder*

HAHAHAHAH

Ever seen old over washed Lingerie?

...but it must be better than unwashed.

Ewwww...

( and that begs the question: why are so many people eliciting the "Ewwww" response with  their Tangler posts?)

Tip of the hat to the suggestion of the baby talker.... Moms and Dads need to be able to sleep without fits knowing that all is well..

To John Robie .... and just which people are we talkin bout here?

It includes 27 premium size 1 diapers

This one too pink for you Dek?

@ Sir Monague: Far too pink.

@ Bricloleur: Sorry don't quite understand the Q

Mmmm diaper cake. Who wants the first slice??

5 Tier Classic Pooh Diaper Cake
If Classic Pooh is the theme of the shower....this cake should be the highlight of your baby shower decorations!!  This amazing diaper cake is created with 3 wonderful Classic Pooh receiving blankets plus two great crib blankets!!  The cake is decorated with Classic Pooh Plush animals and rattles.  This cake also features Classic Pooh booties, bibs, onesies, caps, pacifiers and a great Classic Pooh sleeper.  Also featured are a digitial pacifier thermometer, colorful links, and a custom embroidered cap and onesie.  The cake pictured was created for a baby boy....but we can also create a cake just like this in the Classic Pooh neutral and baby girl color schemes

HAHAHAH Diaper cake?!

Whatever will they think of next?

As well as baby talkers (thanks for that Bric, good description) you can get activity monitors that are tuned in to the sound and movement of the little-uns respiration. Almost guaranteed to prevent cot deaths because they make a jarring sound after no activity for a certain time.  Supposed to snap them out of it and guaranteed as an instant cure to any constipation that the parents might be suffering from...

That's a good idea and......

Oh wow! I had no idea those existed!

smart... very smart

Okay, those are my choices, and I'll see which one I can get a hold of

I'm not recommending it but this is the sort of baby monitor I would buy if I was to decide that 20 odd years of abject suffering was not enough and I want to endure some more...

http://www.productreview.com.au/showitem.php?item_id=48830

LOL!

Well, too late for regrets now anyways....

Why does it say 'DON'T buy'?

Interesting.... so they don't actually stick something to the kid.... I had visions of the ECG patches

No Idea why they say don't buy.  I didn't read the review, all I was looking for was that sort of product and available in Oz.

ahhh.... okay, cool

All their page titles seem to be "Don't buy <product> until you've read our reviews"

Trying to get you to read by making you think there's some problem I guess

ahhhh... sneaky

I'd be pissed if I was the manufacturer

Here's another one for you.  Just in case you get a fit of the munchies while Tangling

http://store.theonion.com/gotcha-gift-box-usb-toaster-p-71.html 

I swear I've seen a USB barbecue grill before..

One Google later and I'm disappointed to learn that that was also a fake 

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/usb-powered-bbq--wtf-196087.php

The USBBBQ lives!

But its a custom made mod, not a product.. and might also be slightly faked based on the calculations of how much power you could get (in the comments)

At this juncture I think I've seen all possible UBS devices

Okay, so I went and got the keep-baby-alive monitor and have presented it to the soon-to-be parents. Blew my budget by a lot, but what the hey. Plus it was the only one I could find

Thanks for the tip Mr Dent!
 

Honestly, the human gestation period is just waaaaay too long.... I'm so excited abt the kid, and I still have 4+ months to wait! *groan*
It was worse when my mother was pregnant with my brother.... those nine months were pure torture! And I think she told us 3 or 4 months in, so it was even less actual waiting time.

*pacing up and down*

*offers dek a cigar*

and a scotch

LOL!! Wait till delivery day. I'm gonna be an absolute mess!

Glad to have been of assistance.  I'm sure that the prospective parents are glad that they have something they can either re-use or sell-on instead of disposing of it once the baby has shat in it.

hahahahah

Well said
 

Guess what??? I'm an AUNT!!!

There were scary moments, but both mum and baby are good now

I'm so happy. This calls for my super duper happy dance thing!

Off to see my new little niece not!

Weeee Heeeeee!!! Giddy up horsie!
 

Congratulaions Aunty Deezee!!

hehehehe Thanks!

Just got back from meeting my new human connection. Meeting consisted of mainly staring at her from afar as she was feeding the whole time. Yep, I was there for abt 2 hrs, and she was feeding the WHOLE time, except for a little 10 minute break. hehehe Very amusing.

Kept getting reminded of my own brother and his birth day.

She's soooo tiny though. My Opa (her dad) and I kept comparing our hands and various digits with the size of her head, her ears, her fingers.... Fun!

They're very cute when they're tiny.

My last grand daughter is just 3 months old (last Fri), but she is still cute.

When's your turn?? 

Mine?? My resolve was strengthened to today to never have one!

As I explained to Opa, I'll take on the role of baby-sitter for life. That way, they have help, and I get to hand the kid back at the end of the day

Wow... 3 months already eh andro? Time sure flies

It sure does, sometimes at light speed

Dek - you better take heaps of pics - cause by the time i get to see the baby - she'll be 4 months!!!! Not so tiny then!!

Yeah, those I took yesterday are a bit blurry cos I didn't want to use flash and disturb her. Will try again tomorrow

An EE PC? Cuz I have one

yeah... no

Worth a try - photo going up on flickr now

Are you seriously suggesting I buy my new niece an EE PC??

LOL no - not for $500 - that's a bit too much.

Fresh pic:

Haven't even had time to play with it yet ... working on prep for wedding

Don't tell me you're getting married.... I'd have to start another topic asking for gift ideas!

That EE PC is very interesting though. I'd love to have a play with one

LOL not me, sister's wedding tomorrow - doing audio/music editing ... march, Pachabel's etc

*phew!* hehehehe

Hey, congratulations to your sis and best wishes to the happy couple

I'll be sure to pass that on, thank you

I'll be twittering the wedding btw - no live blogging or flickring ... not until I get my EE PC happening with some photo editing software and 3G connection

I thought you might be!

Look forward to the pics. You take good photos!

That' s nice!! For some great gift ideas, you can try visiting my favorite shopping/coupons site!! I prefer to visit this once before shopping!!

That looks US-centric. I live in Australia.

Thanks anyways
 

Yay! I'm an aunt again!

This time, one of my oldest girlfriends had her baby. The world seems to be very reproductive.

I'm excited, but the fact that we are in different countries is a bit of a bummer.