17 weeks

I'm wondering a bit what to do about buying baby gear. I'd rather not buy anything until after the baby comes, but obviously that's not practical.

Problem #1: With a full-time teaching position about to start, I know I'm not going to have much time in the late fall to pick up the stuff I need.

Problem #2: I won't get a paycheque until mid-September. DH still has not received an unemployment cheque, and probably won't for another month, thanks to the federal dimwits at Employment Insurance (they keep saying he's missing paperwork, though he brought it in 6 weeks ago). And he can't start his business, either, until he gets approval from said dimwits. So we're living on the credit card.

Problem #3: Baby-gear-buying should take place 4-6 weeks before baby arrives, but that will be Christmas time. Holy broke-ness, Batman!

Problem #4: My baby shower will occur 2-3 weeks after baby arrives (as long as all goes well). This makes no sense to me, but that's the custom around here, so apparently that's what's going to happen.

I'm not planning on spending a bundle on the baby - e.g., I'm happy to use second-hand items, I'm not making a formal nursery, and I probably won't even buy a crib - but apparently we'll still need to shell out more than just a few bucks. lol

I have decided to make a list of bare essentials - which is still a long list - and to purchase a few items every week until we've got what we absolutely must have; e.g., medical supplies, car seat, snowsuit, etc. Also, my MIL is making the diapers (and hitting up second-hand stores for snow gear) and SILs are also thrifting and making a few items (e.g., one is sewing all the receiving blankets, which will be hilarious because I picked out a baby pirate pattern with skulls and crossbones).

Today, I bought the following items: Vitamin D drops (essential for winter newborns in the Great White North, as people are telling me), organic diaper rash cream, Ivory soap, and a fast-acting thermometer (since I doubt that my 3-minute TTC thermometer will do the trick). Good things to start with, no? Not a huge investment, but they're all necessities, and in the event of misfortune, they can be returned or given away.

So I got home and mentioned to DH the following: "I started up picking up baby stuff. I also filled up the car." He gave me a panicked look, which I found odd, since even though we're broke, he's never been a penny-pincher. I added, "Well, I wouldn't have had enough gas to get home if I hadn't!"

But this is what he heard: "I started picking up baby stuff and it filled up the car." He imagined my little car bursting with strollers, cribs, high chairs, and what have you. Hahahaha! It took a while for his heart to stop racing!