I think that's really nice of you, and I would think that was really cool if I was your CFI. One of my favorite students used to bring me breakfast, cookies, etc. It was always appreciated!

Now that I think about it, I did get a zero-gravity pen from a student that stuck with me for a couple years afterwards before I lost it (the pen, not the student). I'm not sure how many times I actually challenged the pen's special abilities, usually I try to be right-side up and positive g's when I copy down ATIS, but it was a cool gift anyway.

:) HEY! I might be able to use a pen like that :)

USMCFLYR

Haha, that's awesome :p.

I got a cinnamon roll of a student once, and have been taken to dinner once, that's about it.
To my old instructor who took me through private, instrument, multi-private, multi-commercial I gave a nice book, with a hand-written message inside the cover from me.
To my other instructor who took me through cfi, cfii and mei i gave him 3 bottles of whiskey (one for each checkride)

A back pack and some hair gel.........:)

I guess that would be appropriate for the "present generation"!! FWIW - I guess this is "historical perspective only" - in the olden days (I soloed in 1969 and got my Private Pilot License in 1970), the standard gift was a bottle of the CFI's favorite adult beverage - no cheap stuff, something good - given after the successful completion of the checkride for the certificate or rating. In my experience, as both a student and later as a CFI in the early 1970's, gifts after solo were generally not given back then.

For the first solo, most CFI's are going to be just as excited as you are. It's a moment of accomplishment for both of you. No doubt your instructor will be appreciative of whatever you do, but honestly anything more than dinner for this phase is above and beyound(unless they are just that spectacular).

I've gotten cash-bonuses from students, beverages, and dinners when they pass their check-rides, and have appreciated each one, but none of this is expected neither. CFI's as a group tend to enjoy the company of a fellow pilot, and a full stomach!

Good luck on the solo and the rest of your training.