Would you consider this manipulative behavior disguised as gift giving?

He's REALLY too busy to call his mother once a fortnight? Garbage. Yes, she probably is sending gifts to ensure contact, but I don't see it as manipulative, just a woman that desperately loves and misses her son and granddaughter. What's your problem? Your husband doesn't have any issues with it, it's obviously not you that has to speak to her, although maybe if you did you would have less problems. How are you going to feel when your daughter grows up and is too busy to call you once every two weeks? Maybe you feel like it would be ok to go for a year or two without talking to the person you love most in the world? You sound extremely selfish. Get over yourself.