Indeed. I’m embarrassed to admit it and I don’t know why, but buying something new usually cheers me up. I’m not a big shopper, I can stand it about once every 6 months, but it’s usually a fun time.
I’m also finding that looking at baby stuff is quite the palliative for all the anxieties about becoming parents. Focusing on how we will provide for the physical needs of the baby–a place to sleep, a bathtub, etc.–works nicely to take away my concern about the fact that I have no idea how to take care of a baby. And since there is pretty much an infinite number of things you can buy for a baby (not to mention the amount of money you can spend), this should carry me through the next 6 months quite nicely.
If all this makes you worried about the well-being of our upcoming baby, I also signed us up for the big “how to have and care for a baby” class at the hospital. Wheeee!