Weddingbee boards

So the many "how do you know you're ready" for a baby threads makes me wonder.

In your situation what are your savings graces that makes having a baby possible for you? Whether it was planned or not?

Siblings/friends with hand me downs for big ticket items like car seats, strollers, etc.

Very generous family gifts.

ILs/parents nearby who will watch baby for you?

A husband who is completely on board with you to tackle the rough time ahead?

What is it for you and your husband/FI/BF?

For us it is our super-cheap 3-bedroom apartment. We got such a good deal on rent that we have enough left over to cover the cost of very high quality daycare that makes me feel good about being a working mom.

we aren't ttc yet, but I know my parents will be incredibly supportive and generous with their time because I see how they are for my niece, and I know they'll be more than willing to do the same for their future grandchildren. we'll probably do well on hand me downs as well--bro and sil are hoping for another kid, but they'll send us a lot of stuff assuming they have their second child before we have our first.

also, our current apartment is big enough for a nursery--we found a really big (3 teeny bedrooms plus living and dining rooms) but still affordable place last year. it was an amazing deal!

also i'm in grad school and will be able to take some time off without it being too big of a deal. my schedule will be a lot more flexible than if i was accountable to a boss or a strict 9-5 workday. and dh works from home, so has some flexibility too.

We are still TTC, but it's all the way my wonderful, amazing, beautiful DH.  He, first of all, is the provider.  I work, but he's a hefty 75% of our income.  And I'm so proud of how he always advances himself to go even further, to climb higher. Always saying it's for our family.  Not only is he my saving grace for actually having a baby one day, he's my saving grace in the perilous, exhausting, heart-breaking TTC process.  There's nothing he wouldn't and hasn't done for me.  For us.  To try to have a baby.  Hopefully one day soon, it'll work out.  And I know when it does, that his amazing-ness while TTC, is going to be tenfold when he has our baby in his arms.  Sometimes I think I  don't deserve him.  But I'm certainly glad he thinks I do:)

Thanks everyone for sharing! I thought it would enlightening, heartwarming to those wondering about this. And perhaps provide them some light at the end of the tunnel! :)

@Quietserenity:

Agreed.

Unfortunately, I'm the first of friends to have babies. My husband and I's siblings kids are all quite a bit older already. Their big ticket items have long gone to other friends/ILs. So we're SOL in that department. We will be getting some clothes from BIL and my brother from what has not been given away.

But our family have been extremely generous with the baby coming and our new house. It has greatly helped the financial aspect. My ILs are insisting on gifting us all nursery furniture even though we keep saying it is WAY too much. I know between my 2 brothers, mom and BIL we will be getting car seat, stroller, etc.

And they have all been super generous with housewarming gifts on our new house. My ILs got us a riding lawnmower (HUGE backyard), my brothers are buying us the new Samsung French Door fridge and a new flat screen for the living room. My mom has already said she will give us cash to buy whatever.

They are crazy.

Unfortunately both grandmas are too far away to help watch baby. But I'm extremely grateful for my SIL who is 2 weeks ahead of me being gracious enough so that my mom can come stay with me for 2-3 months initially to help out with the baby. When she found out that my MIL won't be staying with us long term to help babysit she offered to ask her mom to stay longer with her to help with their baby so my mom can stay longer with me.

We are truly fortunate to have great family.

And most of all my husband who has picked up so much of my slack during pregnancy. He has been so great for emotional support. Taking me to doctor visits. Keeping his emotions in check because of my hyper emotions. We never thought it was possible but this baby has made us even closer than before. Who woulda thunk that I could love this man any more???

We won't start TTC until probably 2013, but I know we will be ready to have a baby at any point in time due to our extremely supportive families. My mom has jokingly always told me that she gets to keep my first-born and I can keep the rest of the kids. She loves children (hence why I'm one of 4 siblings) and can't wait til I give her her first grandchild. I won't ever need to pay for daycare. EVER.