If you Google “Mother’s Day,” you’ll find a 2003 video of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper interviewing his mom on what to give moms on Mother’s Day. It was such a short interview, but in the 2 min 45 sec that it ran, Mrs. Cooper was able to capture the essence of gift giving: it’s not the glitter that counts, it’s the heart that goes into the gift. It seems that Anderson Cooper sent his mom a necklace with a card that was unsigned. Mrs. Cooper’s message was clear: jewelry or jelly beans, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that a part of the gift-giver came with the gift, even if it’s only his signature.

In these days when mail order and online gifts have become fashionable, both the retailer and the gift-giver must not neglect this little detail. It doesn’t mean that a gift can be sloppy as long as a part of the gift-giver goes with it. Neither does it mean that a higher price tag is enough to compensate for a lack of sincerity. What it means is that a gift must be overflowing with sincerity first before the gift-giver can think of the add-ons like originality, creativity, and uniqueness.

Here are some Gift Ideas for coming up with Unique Gifts.

Personalized Greeting from the White House

T-shirts autographed by David Beckham, golf balls proudly showing the signature of Tiger Woods, and personalized greetings from the President of the United States will remain prized possessions for a long time. Get the newborn a gift he can show his classmates when he starts attending school: a Presidential greeting. Write to White House Greetings, Washington D.C., 20500. Include the baby’s name, address, and date of birth.

Counted Among the Stars

Have a star named after baby. The International Star Registry is offering anybody the privilege of having a star named after him. The scientific community will not feel bound by the naming, but that should not prevent baby—when he grows up -- from remembering that at least in the astronomical compendium Your Place in the Cosmos which is registered in the U.S. Copyright Office, a star has been named after him.

Personalized Pacifiers

These days even pacifiers are becoming personalized. This novelty is being offered by an outfit with the Web site www.itsmybinky.com service. Your $9.99 gets you three pacifiers with baby’s name on each. The pacifiers are German-made and comply with U.S. consumer products for safety (CRF11)

Personalized Pillows

For $69.95 Blanketworx will give you a throw pillow embellished with a close-up picture of baby and mom. The photos are not printed, silk-screened, nor embroidered, but are incorporated into the very stitching of the fabric, resulting in impressions that will not fade nor wash off. They also do photo blankets, photo afghans, photo towels, and posters.

Personalized Lamp

Instead o f the usual floral or animal designs, why can’t baby have lamps that show a picture of him and mom snuggled together? It’s easy with the Lamp Plus personalized lamp service. Select a lamp or framed art from Lamp Plus. Choose a layout using their template or your own design. Upload your original images.

DNA Art Portraits

It couldn’t get any more personal than this—baby’s DNA being used as the pattern for an art piece that’ll decorate his wall. It’s called DNA Art Portraits done by an outfit called DNA 11. They’re beautiful and pack a lot of attitude. Starts at $169.

Sterling Silver Gift

Sterling silver has always been associated with wealth. In fact, one ”who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth” is one who was born wealthy. A sterling silver gift, be it a rattle, a cup, or, yes, a silver spoon will add oomph to your gift, especially if you had it engraved with baby’s name.

Themed Gifts

If the above suggestions are still a tad too tame for you, try to give gifts based on a theme. Here, you don’t give only one gift but many, all pulled together by a single concept. Here are a few you might try:

Layette On One traditional gift that has remained a popular choice for a baby shower gift is the baby layette, which is a complete outfit of clothing and equipment for a baby:

· From 6 to 10 burp cloths

· From 5 to 10 onesies (short-sleeved, legless body suits)

· From 5 to 8 baby nightgowns

· From 5 to 7 pairs of booties

· From 5 to 7 pairs scratch mitts

· From 3 to 5 soft cotton pants

· Three soft receiving blankets

· Three hooded towels

· One or two newborn cotton hats

· One or two Kimono-style cotton jackets

· One cold-weather nightgown

Nursery Accessories Your set may include playful pulls and knobs, wall art, musical mobile, and, if your budget allows it, a rocking chair. Every nursery needs a rocking chair for nursing and feeding times.

Travel Accessories Mom would need a diaper bag, a car seat, perhaps a Moses basket.

A’s Good But B’s Better Put together baby things which start with “B”: bibs, booties, burp cloth, bonnets, bumper pads, bassinet.

Paul Bunyan Twelve pieces of baby’s shirt or pants in progressively larger sizes.

Bath Man Baby bath gel, baby soap, baby lotion, cotton buds, hooded bath robe-- all placed inside a baby bath tub.

Mom, I’m Hungry Bibs, burp cloth, baby food, breast pump, feeding bottles.

Go Green Green’s in, and the trend has influenced many baby decisions. Cloth diapers, for instance, are staging a comeback. “Organic” is fast becoming a pre-requisite for clothing, bedding, and cleaning products. Organic materials like wicker and bamboo are starting to be specified by more and more moms for their bassinets, for instance.

Dad-Friendly Diaper bags that look like backpacks are now available for dads who feel a bit embarrassed having to carry frilly diaper bags. Even strollers now come with suspension systems to allow dads to jog while pushing baby’s carriage.