Hi Lori,
Gift giving is one of the 'love languages' mentioned in Gary Chapman's book which I recommend. You are right that many men (but women also) don't necessarily think of giving a gift as an expression of love OR they figure once they are married that they need to be more practical than that.
While it's tempting to focus on getting what you feel like you need from your marriage -- gifts or some display of affection, it's usually more productive to figure out what your spouse views as an expression of love and try to provide that first. If you are lucky, he will chose to reciprocate and you can then suggest what you'd really appreciate.
Yes, there is marriage counseling, but most men require wild horses to drag them to it.
