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This weekend, my third baby<\/a> turned one, and I\u2019m finally starting to feel like myself again. But even now, I remember how special, raw, and incredibly hard those early months of motherhood were. <\/p>\n Every five minutes, I\u2019d nestle my nose into Evelynn\u2019s fluffy hair, breathing in her newborn smell. For the first two months, I always grew nervous as the sun went down, since I knew what waited for me was a night of back-to-back nursing sessions. Also, I felt so gutted and guilty at Evelynn\u2019s first doctor\u2019s appointment, when I learned she had lost weight, instead of gaining it. <\/p>\n My highs felt so high, and the lows were low<\/em>. Thankfully, a few remedies always helped: Texts from friends. Visits with my mom. Listening to funny audiobooks<\/a> on our stroller walks. And what also brought me comfort were gifts from family and friends that made me feel cared for, physically and emotionally. Below are five gift ideas for new moms\u2026<\/p>\n 1. A pretty vase<\/strong> to hold flower bouquets from visitors. For years, whenever she fills it, she will always think of you and that sweet newborn time. This one<\/a> felt like a ray of sunshine.<\/p>\n 2. Pick-me-up skincare<\/strong>. I rarely put on makeup during those first few months, but when I had time to myself, skincare<\/em> products were such a treat. Korean skincare glow pads<\/a> felt refreshing and cool and always left my skin soft and dewy. I wore them every night of my third pregnancy, when fluctuating hormones made my face feel bone-dry.<\/p>\n 3. Slip-ons.<\/strong> My husband, Max, surprised me with Birkenstocks<\/a> for my birthday, four days before I unexpectedly went into labor with our son<\/a>. He was born seven weeks early and rushed to the NICU. While pregnant with him, I\u2019d daydreamed of slow mornings together, snuggling in our pajamas in bed. Instead, I woke up to a 6:30 a.m. alarm clock in a room with no baby. Getting dressed for the hospital felt so hard \u2014 I didn\u2019t have many pieces that felt comfortable on my new postpartum body, because I hadn\u2019t expect to be leaving the house so soon. Thankfully, slipping on these clogs<\/a> took two seconds, and I didn\u2019t have to bend over tie shoelaces. Three years later, they\u2019re still one of my most-worn shoes.<\/p>\n 4. Drop-off meals that aren\u2019t<\/em> dinner.<\/strong> Of course, any delivered food is always appreciated, but in Caroline Chambers\u2019s meal train menu<\/a>, her editor Molly brings up a good point: \u201cInstead of dinner, consider bringing snacks, a breakfast casserole, or a good-all-week salad for lunch,\u201d she says. \u201cA neighbor dropped off peanut butter energy balls when I was one week postpartum, and it HIT THE SPOT. I\u2019d eat one for breakfast, in the car headed to doctor appointments, and while nursing in the middle of the night.\u201d This make-ahead strata<\/a> is chock full of vegetables, and these zucchini muffins<\/a> are perfect for grab-and-go moments.<\/p>\n 5. A hand-written letter for the baby.<\/strong> At my first baby shower, guests wrote heartfelt letters for my daughter, Ella, and shared their hopes and dreams for her. To this day, whenever I read them, I get a lump in my throat and marvel at how lucky Ella and I are to be surrounded by this community of women and men. In hard parenting moments, a new mom could reread these cards and take in what every parent wants to hear: their child is deeply, deeply loved, and they\u2019re never alone.<\/p>\n Thoughts? What ideas would you add? If you\u2019re a parent, what gifts\/gestures did you appreciate most during those hazy early days? Congratulations to any new parents, and good luck and love to anyone who is trying.<\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. Eight more gift ideas for new parents<\/a> and Joanna\u2019s advice for new mothers<\/a>.<\/p>\n