Well, I kind of agree with the OP about his original ideas. Those would be HELPFUL and appreciated I am sure, but he is supposed to be focusing on his wife and doing something JUST for her… not in service of the house & family. Which I know can look like the same thing a lot of times, but I really think he needs to do something special and out of the ordinary that he might not normally do.
Speaking for myself, the following things would be extremely appreciated and perceived as focusing just on me: good chocolate (I am sure you know her fave), a nice wine (if I wasn’t pregnant), maybe flowers, neck and shoulder and foot massages (stress lives in the former, and the latter have accupressure points that benefit the entire body), and a long hot bath with a favorite bubble bath or scented oil, as uninterrupted as possible, and yes, if she is a reader, I second the book recommendation. Or perhaps some really soothing music on CD (think Josh Groban, Andrea Boccelli, personally I find Gregorian chant very soothing and relaxing). If you cook, then a special dinner, perhaps eaten late after any kiddos are already fed and in bed would also be nice…maybe candles…