Baby Gear Suggestions

So I have a task for all the readers. My wife and I are 2 months away from baby #1. We are pretty familiar with infants and have a good idea what we need in terms of "baby gear." Yet, living up in Alaska we do have some odd obstacles to confront with attaining such items:

1. We don't have a store, aside from Fred Meyer, that sells "new baby items." We do have a resale shop but it is limited.
2. We aren't doing a "baby shower." We don't feel right doing so with the new people we know around here, and we also don't think it's appropriate considering the situation we are in.
3. Add to #2, the fact that we also don't have the room/space/ability to receive & then bring back to Michigan a bunch of stuff we might receive. 
4. Shipping to AK is EXPENSIVE!

So we want to be really intentional about anything that we purchase or ask family members for. You add to the fact that my current position and the cost of living up here make things tight, we want to make sure we get only that which we need. [Need vs. Want is a big question for us]

So, my task for you all; let me know things that you absolutely LOVE! They don't have to be big things, or even for newborns, they just have to be "things" that you would recommend to someone. I love unique and new technologies... and since baby gear is always changing I know there are things out there that people have really strong feelings about.

As I said before, being in Alaska, things have to be available to us online, which rules out Babies R Us and the like. Amazon.com on the other hand covers most everything you could need... at least we think... so let me know of some cool stuff. I won't put any parameters on this... I want to see what people suggest!

One thing of note: I am very fond of portable, packable, versatile and cutting edge stuff. Yet, at the same time very traditional. I know that is an odd combination, and hard to explain but hopefully some people understand it.