I have a lot of friends who gave birth or are about to give birth this year... And I told my husband this, there is obviously a "baby boom", hehe.

Kidding aside, I suddenly had a thought about the gifts we give to our pregnant friends... they are mostly just for the baby.

Don't get me wrong, expectant parents love getting gifts for their baby, and who doesn't adore buying those little outfits and amusing toys? But the Pregnancy Journey wouldn't be complete without the parents who started it all: the Mother who carries the child for nine moths or so, the Father who makes sure that his wife and child are safe and secure.

That being said, I just thought about writing on what other possible gifts could we give the expectant parents? Yes, that thought just went into my head, so I am writing about it now...haha!

Here are some gift suggestions you could give your pregnant friends. I'm sure the mom and dad will appreciate being thought of too, during their pregnancy journey :) 

1. The Baby Owner's Manual

Photo source

This was a gift from one of our friends, and it's very helpful! Not to mention very geeky, and I mean that in the best way!

The illustrations in this book are quirky and it is, in fact, easy to understand and follow. Great gift for first time parents!

I don't actually know where they bought it, but perhaps it's in your favorite bookstore :) You can also catch this gem on Amazon/Kindle or iTunes, if you want a digital copy.

Here is a sneak peek of what's inside:

baby owner book from The Gwenster

2. Nursing Cover or Nursing Clothes (for mom)
If your friend plans on nursing, whether for just a few months or for a couple of years, it would be really helpful to give them nursing clothes or a nursing cover. 

It wouldn't only help the breastfeeding journey easier and more comfortable, but also it would benefit the baby too, so it's a win-win! 

To know about the different nursing wear brands, READ ALSO: Nursing Wear for the Breastfeeding Mom

3. Nursing or Body Pillow

Source: www.snugahug.net

Personally, we don't have this, but it's something I would have loved to have during my pregnancies and even post-partum!

The body pillow is basically an all-around pillow for every stage: Maternity, Nursing, Baby pillow, and more! I'm sure dad would also love to use this pillow :) 

For more information, you may head on to: http://www.snugahug.net/about-us

4. Prenatal or Lactation goodies (for mom... maybe some for dad too)

Care for a #galactagogues rich @mommytreats merienda? 😍 #lactationbrownies #lactationmuffins #lactationbrownies #chocospoons

A photo posted by Mommy Treats (@mommytreats) on Feb 18, 2016 at 12:30am PST

Again, if your friend plans on nursing, why not give her yummy goodies too? I personally tried a couple of local pastries that are not only delicious, but also very effective in helping boost milk supply. And mom and dad can share them too (don't worry, dad won't lactate, hehe). 

Some also offer prenatal snacks for expectant moms that have Wheat Germ (rich source of folate) & superfood Chia Seeds!

Lactation pastries have "galactagogues" (milk-increasing ingredients) such as fiber-and-iron-rich oats, Omega-3-flowing flax seed, cholesterol-and-blood-sugar-lowing fenugreek, and Vitamin-B-packed brewer’s yeast.

To know more about the different lactation cookie brands, READ ALSO: What are Lactation Goodies?

5. A "manly" diaper bag or baby carrier (for dad)

Source: Baby-Wearing Celebrity Dads

I know, I know. I said there was no baby stuff on this list... BUT, this is different because the dads get to use them mainly, ok? :)

More and more parents are being hands-on when it come to taking care of their children. And dads are no exception.

My husband would almost always say that there should be more "masculine" or neutral baby stuff for the dads too! And I agree. Don't you?

Why not give your dad friend something he'd be happy to carry around or wear, like a neutral or "manly" diaper bag or sling.

READ ALSO: Moby Go Carrier Review

6. Shapewear (for mom)

There are various shapewears now for every stage of motherhood, and I personally got to use a girdle, post pregnancy. It was a gift from my mom (thanks mama!). It helped me to get back in shape. And for those who've had C-sections, it serves as a support garment.

I'm sure your mommy friend would appreciate to get one too, whether it be a maternity tank, girdle, or belly bands.

To know more about shapewear, READ ALSO: Urban Essentials: A Modern Mom's needs from Pregnancy, Post-pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Beyond

7. Teething Jewelry (for mom)

Who wouldn't love jewelry as a gift? It's a plus if the baby can chew on it when he's teething. YAS!

I personally own a teething necklace and bracelet. I wear it occasionally, and when my daughter was younger, it was one of her favorite accessories and teether, hehe.

Here's where you can get one too:
IG: @chunkychewelries or @teethingbeads
Facebook: Teething Beads

8. Matching clothes

A photo posted by Marian Rivera Gracia Dantes (@therealmarian) on Dec 31, 2015 at 5:14am PST

Twinning with your kids is SO "in" now. I mean, who doesn't find it adorable that you have your own "mini me"? 

Boutiques and online shops are into the matchy-matchy thing too. So I'm sure there's a perfect pair of outfits or a family set of outfits for your expectant friends :) 

9. Digital Picture Frame

Photo Source

In this digital age, we take a LOT of photos... I mean a LOT. And if your friends are first time parents, they will definitely get the unlimited baby picture taking syndrome as soon as their bundle of joy comes out!

So, a digital photo frame would be a wonderful gift for storing those numerous baby photos and milestones. I believe you can get some at CD-R King or appliance stores.

10. A Photoshoot Voucher

Family photos are one of the most treasured keepsakes. It would definitely be a unique and thoughtful gift for any expectant family to have a photoshoot: maternity, newborn, or family portrait.

What do you think?

READ ALSO: Remembering your Baby Bump: Getting a Maternity Photoshoot

I hope this post helped you somehow. Next time you attend a baby shower or plan to give an expectant friend a gift, maybe consider these things on the list too? :)

Cheers!

Mother's Day is just around the corner! 

Don't have a gift yet? Don't panic...moms are easy to please, trust me.

Here's a list of some unique gift ideas for the woman in your life!

Ok, ok, I might be biased with the items on this list because they are the ones I would like to receive on Mother's Day, hihi... But these are just awesome :)

Let's start with this deliciously, delightful Fruit Bouquet

Source (YouTube: Pins and Things)

You can pre-order from FruiQuet or Fruits in Blooms, or go ahead and try to make a simple one yourself. Moms dig DIY gifts :)

How about a cupcake flower basket?

Photo source

Check out Pink Sweets and her yummy creations.

Give her a well-deserved, relaxing day at the Salon or Spa

Photo source

That 1-2 hours of pampering and alone time is already a vacation for mom.

Or you can give her a cute Spa-in-a-jar instead

Source: www.evermine.com

Source: www.thegunnysack.com

Be sentimental by giving her meaningful, charm jewelry

Photo source

A charm necklace with the kids' names is a piece mom will surely love to wear. See more from Istorya Creations

Give her a break and prepare her a home-cooked meal

Photo Source

Get crafty and make a handmade card

Photo source

I used to love making cards for my parents when I was a kid. Handmade cards are always special because they are made with love. If not, a Store-Bought Greeting Card is okay too :)

Or how about giving a HUG (grandma would love this!)

Source: www.pagingsupermom.com

If all else fails, you can never go wrong with a delicious box of chocolates

Source: www.livelaughrowe.com

Who doesn't love chocolates?

Or this Chocolate bouquet looks good too...

Source: wikiHow

But like I said, moms are easy to please... Just tell her you love her then spoil her with hugs and kisses (moms love those, I know I do!)

We planned a surprise baby shower for our friend last weekend. I pitched the idea of giving a diaper cake as a gift for the expectant mom, since I was inspired by the tricycle diaper cake at Mommy JJ's elephant baby shower that we attended last year (see it HERE).

Not only would it serve as a cute decoration for the party, but it's a practical gift as well. Besides, I wouldn't pass on the chance to try some new DIY craft. I was excited to make one!

I made this together with my friend, Cathe. I found a number of instructions on the internet, not to mention a lot of other possible forms: tricycle, stroller, beehive, an owl, a caterpillar and more! But this was the easiest so far, a traditional 2-tier cake shape...but we improvised a bit when it came to the decorating and the materials used :)

Of course, you need to think of a theme or a color motif at least, so you know what to buy first, so that it all goes together.

For this particular diaper cake, we thought of going with a Little Lamb theme (you'll find out why later), with colors of pale blue and white.

Our Materials:

Now, time to make the diaper cake, yay! Here are the Steps:

1. The instructions I found needed 2 Cake Pans, but since I don't bake, we made use of 2 differently sized basins instead.

First, we traced the mouth of the biggest basin on our cardboard to make a base. Or you can buy foam board or a circular cake base cardboard too.

2. Put the diapers in the basins like a fan and place something in the middle - ours made use of Baby Wipes and some Small-sized diapers for the center. You can also place bottles of baby shampoo, lotion, alcohol and other baby essentials for the center.

3. Tie the diapers together with a ribbon. Flip the biggest basin of diapers onto the hooded blanket, and then wrap the blanket around the diapers by inserting the edges in the center.

4. Flip the smaller basin of diapers onto the bigger tier, and then cover it with burp cloths. You can also use bath towels or muslin fabric, or basically anything similar that could cover the diapers.

5. Finally, decorate your "cake"! 

We used socks and a bonnet as toppers, along with an arch banner that says "Baa-by Baa-sman", since our theme was little lamb and the family name was Basman. Yeah, pun intended :D

Mittens and booties were used as decorations for the sides of the top tier and we tied a ribbon and placed a little lamb on the bottom tier.

We used a glue gun to place the baby items, small dots of glue will do. But you can also use pins or safety pins.

Here's a recap of the steps in pictures:

Pin this for later:
Follow Lique's board DIY: Easy Steps on How to Make a Diaper Cake on Pinterest.

Surprise Basman Family! 

The diaper cake became an instant decoration slash table centerpiece for our surprise baby shower. We also included a Sheep stuffed toy to match the Baa-Baa Baby lamb theme. Yummy food from Shine Bakery+Cafe.

Congratulations Basman Family! We're excited to meet your little addition!