My next door neighbor is very nice, but I don't know her that well yet. I attended her baby shower and gave her a gift off her registry, plus a homemade cloth book and a funny book for her. At other times we have given her stuff just to be neighborly- peaches from our tree, a set of baby hangers we didn't need any more, and a tree to plant. I have chatted several times with the grandmother(who is staying for a couple months to help because her fiance is in the military). The day after the new mom & baby got home from the hospital, the other neighbors and I were outside and went over to see the baby. She invited me and the other neighbors in, but I was on my way somewhere else. The other neighbor gave her a casserole, but we didn't. The baby is 1 week old, and now she has invited all of us over for a cookout.
Do I need to bring another gift to the cookout? If so should it be baby-related, food, or something for the house(they are renting but seem like they will stay awhile).
We ended up not bringing a gift, didn't have time at the last minute anyway. The party was a lot of fun, and she had PLENTY of help. Maybe she's always that organized and energetic? Her fiance is still there till tomorrow, and he grilled burgers with onions, cheese, and chopped sausage mixed in. They had soda, chips, potato salad, fruit & veg trays, desserts, and the other neighbor brought green chile mac and cheese. Several of her friends from work came, and a couple of them who weren't at the shower brought gifts or sent flowers, but most people didn't bring gifts.
She had help from her mom, MIL, and her 2 sisters. Her baby slept the whole time and there were plenty of people to hold him. There was even a table with crayons and modeling clay to keep the older kids occupied.
We're planning to go for a short walk around the block in a few days while her mom watches the baby. She's got 5 weeks before going back to work.
Since she already had a baby shower I don't think she'll be expecting baby gifts. I would just ask her if you can contribute anything to the cookout.
If you want to bring a little something for the baby do that but I would also bring a casserole type dish in small containers that she can throw in the freezer and pull out one and a time. also bring a dish to pass for the cookout. I think it is wonderful you have taken this girl into your fold. When your hubby is in the military and deployed it is so hard. My daughters ex husband was deployed for 3 and a half of the 5 years they were married. It was so so hard on her. She was on the military base, didn't have any family in the state even. She was blessed to have families like yours who accepted her in and made her feel welcome.
Give her some food she can freeze and heat up for later. This was the best ever gift for us when we had a newborn.
I don't know why you need to bring her a "gift". She invited you to a cookout. Period. Treat it as an invitation to a cook-out. Where I live, that means that you bring a side dish or dessert. Or ask the host/hostess what you can bring to go along with the meal. If they say, "oh nothing. It's all done. Just bring yourselves." (which isn't uncommon either) then bring a bottle of wine or something else that "works" as a hostess gift.
Since she just had a baby, your choice in hostess gifts might be different than they might at other times. For example, if she is nursing, she may not be consuming alcohol (so no wine as a gift right now).
I think you could bring something as little as a fruit tray or something like that just so you dont feel like your going empty handed.Since you have already gone to her baby shower you dont have to bring something for the baby unless you wanted to! but since this is a cook out a lil somethin like food would be very iappropriate!
I think the cookout is a reciprocal event, in response to everyone's kindness, so a gift wouldn't be expected. But if you choose to give a gift give her something for her, something like a bath and shower or spa kit. You could make one up with several travel size goodies (like from Bath and Body Works) and put them in a small pretty tote or large cosmetic bag.
I'm not thinking a gift would be necessary for the cookout, but if you want to bring something, how about a pack of diapers?
I don't think she's expecting gifts. She must have lost her mind to host a cookout a week after giving birth :P Since you are a nearby neighbor and it sounds like you're wanting to keep things friendly, I'd do something to continue that. I'd say make her a nice frozen meal that she can pop in the oven the day she wants to pull her hair out. I'd also include a little card that says how willing you are to help her in this transition time. Maybe after grandma leaves you can sit with the baby while she showers or naps or maybe she wants to run to the store without the baby. I think new moms need extra-special support. New brides get one day, new moms need a month :P
I would ask her what you could bring as in too eat, cups, dishes, napkins, ice. She might need something for the cook out. Other wise no do not bring another gift. Its a cook out gathering not a gift setting. Bringing food would be fine even cookies or a fruit tray.
I would just bring over potato salad or something like that. Don't go over board!
