adoption gift ideas???

[maillotpois]

A friend just sent an announcement that she and her husband have adopted twin 2 year old boys from Russia. I want to give them something - not sure what!

Help!

By way of more background - this friend and I were VERY close in law school and she was my maid of honor when I got married 14 years ago. Since we moved 11 years ago, I have really fallen out of touch with her and we have not stayed as connected as I wish we had. She wants for nothing financially, so I don't "need" to give her a practical gift. I just would like to give her something simple and nice - the thought counts sort of thing.

Also, I know NOTHING about what 2 year old boys would like or need or anything. :confused::confused::confused: Or should I get something for the parents?

Ack!

[Jones]

how about matching trikes and helmets or a nice bottle of wine for the parents.
Jones

[maillotpois]

Great suggestion, and I'd love the wine, but my friend's a recovering alcoholic. ;) (Maybe should have mentioned that.)

It also needs to be something I can send in the mail.....

[spotlightmama]

Diapers are always good - I personally like 7th Generation diapers (http://www.amazon.com/Seventh-Generation-Chlorine-34-Count-Packages/dp/B000C9N5R4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1211930817&sr=8-2). But I guess that's more of a practical gift...

Maybe a gift certificate for a house cleaning or dinner service? Sorry, I've got a 3-yo and 7-month old...I guess my brain can only process practical gifts, lol.

Cute clothes?

ETA: sorry, posted before I saw your response about wine.

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm adopted and think it's great that you're treating this like a 'normal' birth announcement - albeit without the late night feedings.

I'd focus on making it something unique and special...

maybe you can arrange autographed copies from TE's own author latelatebloomer:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=19504&highlight=children%27s+book

[maillotpois]

I'm adopted and think it's great that you're treating this like a 'normal' birth announcement - albeit without the late night feedings.


I am (adopted) too! ;)


Keep the ideas coming, you guys - and thanks!!

[Crankin]

When my parents adopted my brother (5 months old), we got all the normal gifts that you would give any other new baby. For 2 year olds, I think clothes, toys, or the bike idea is fine.

[makbike]

saving bonds?

[Blueberry]

Something like a hand print cast kit? Gift certificate for them to have a portrait done?

CA

[Tuckervill]

My friend gave her best friend's baby a large library of her favorite children's books. I thought it was an awesome idea, especially since she can keep adding to it on the child's birthdays.

I have a couple of children's books that were translated from Russian. Perhaps a little search will turn up something quaint and appropriate along those lines. It would have the added bonus of showing your thoughtfulness towards the children's heritage.

I make sure to give my grandson books on every occasion. Now I've gone on to add music, too, most recently the Barenaked Ladies' new kids CD, Snacktime.

Karen

[SadieKate]

Where do they live? Any other kids in the house? If not, I'm guessing they're short on everything. Sled for the winter, big wheels, kid size picnic table (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=kids-adirondack-picnic-table&categoryId=22066&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=4122&cat4=2112&shop_method=pp&feat=4122-tn&np=Y), toy bins (http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/Kids+Playroom+Storage/5301/ZM80X/), big ol' box of books (no time like now to be immersed in the Amurican language, etc., etc., etc.

[Kano]

My grandsons are 3 1/2 and 18 months. Large motor type toys. There's tons of energy in there! Anything that makes noise. (earplugs for the parents) There are some great jungle gym type things out there, and you can have them delivered when you buy online. Consider that things like Little Tykes "flintstone mobile" is a delight to small children. Dad got one for my oldest when she turned one, and my girls loved it for years. Dad bought his great grandson his first car too! The one my girls had was beloved by the whole neighborhood, to the point where kids up and down the block fought over it. By then, the girls were past it, and it got a new home with a family several miles away!

Trikes or tiny bikes and helmets are good, but the bikes will be outgrown almost as fast as you get them. Anything Elmo. Only things with many pieces (think Legos) if you are mad at the parents.

Musical instruments -- and more earplugs! Other musical toys -- LeapFrog does some cool stuff with letters and animals and such. The kids LOVE the. Here, we have the farm thing -- you made a match look what you've done, you made a match, hear a pig sound! Add the foot stompin' banjo tunes, and you've got serious fun: there's nothing like watching them struggle with stomping a foot and clapping at the same time, much less in time to the music! (now my dog has learned to make music with farmer tad, cuz he gets treats!)

Books -- hardboard pages, cuz paper gets torn. One Fish Two Fish is incredibly well loved here. Won't be long and the Walter the FArting Dog series will be incredibly well received! (fart humor starts early, and lasts forever in my experience!)

note that everything seems to turn into guns, swords, and other weapons. Doesn't matter what it is.

Both boys love build-a-bear workshop bears. They particularly love to make their own! We've gotten around the millions of bears in their own lives by having Xander make them for other people. He does have a couple of his own, and Rion recently did his first one. I hear there's a remote control car store like this now -- I look forward to it coming to Boise. I think the boys and their grandpa will have a blast making RC cars together!

Ooh! Gotta add: locked storage units for mom and dad to stash everything in. Boys this age will get into anything and everything that's not securely stashed. A whole new houseful of non-porous furniture and flooring. As the older grandkid says "messes happen"

Car seats too -- they're going to want a set in each car. I've got my own set for our grandboys. Life is just easier that way!

Karen in Boise

[Trekhawk]

Lego the stuff for little kids so they can't choke on it.
My three boys love the stuff and have always played with it from toddlers right up to now and my oldest is nearly 11.
The Danes sure know how to make some good stuff.

If postage is a problem I am sure Lego do gift vouchers.:)

[mimitabby]

I always buy books for little kids. So many people in my family don't read!! but I hope for the best. There are lots of great books for little kids.

[shootingstar]

Do the twins understand much English at this time? Or do one of the adoptive parents can speak/understand Russian?

If there will be a language fluency problem for lst few months, I would buy a fun, book plus 2 little stuffed toys that they can each cuddle.

I'm sure they will be well-loved. :)

[maillotpois]

You people are the best. Seriously. Big collective hug.

Not sure what the language situation is right now. I was a Russian major and used to be moderately fluent. That's irony for you. (The Russian has all degenerated to allow me to recover my French. :) ).

I am going to ponder over your suggestions for the next day or 2 and then move into action on this.... I will let you know what I end up doing.

I wonder if they want a slightly used yellow lab puppy (ETA: with satanic devil eyes...)... NAH! :D

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/maillotpois/156.jpg

[salsabike]

Sarah, I emailed one of my best friends who has two adoptive daughters and this was her reply:

OK---I am a nut about kid gifts! Love gift certificates for the zoo, children's museum, aquarium, children's theatre, etc. ! I can think of lots of things to get the boys, but sounds like their parents will be able to provide all the home toddler things.

Subscription to Adoption Today - not sure of name now---used to be Adoptive Families. You can find it online & they will send you complimentary copy, but I still read them & my kids are much older!

[maillotpois]

Thanks!

[malkin]

My favorite gift for parents of toddlers is a big pack of white terry cloth shop towels from Costco.

Many happy messes!

[Duck on Wheels]

I vote for the books idea. Maybe some in Russian (assuming the parents can read that) and some in English, some for reading out loud and some with few or no words per page so the kids can enjoy them on their own and that the parents can manage to "read" in either language. Our kids weren't adopted, but we tried to get them bi-lingual ASAP, what with them growing up here in Norway and my side of the family back in the US knowing no Norwegian. Books helped with that.

Also, some 20 or so years ago, baby OshKoshes and baby Levis were really popular gifts from the US for new babies in the European side of the family, including Russia. Of course, nowadays neither brand is made in the US any more. Still, they can kinda symbolize the new homeland.

[mupedalpusher]

Books are top of the list for me. It's the gift that never stops giving and it would help the boys learn English if they need to. Good quality books by good authors will be read over and over.