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I would suggest just starting out with some onesies in newborn and 0-3 month sizes. Maybe one or two of those sets that come with hat, pants, socks, etc. You don't know how big the baby will be (and how quickly they will grow!). I bought a whole bunch of things and thought I would return whatever I didn't use, but in a nesting frenzy before the baby was born I cut off the tags and washed everything in preparation for the baby.

Also, when the baby is young you will probably be itching to get out of the house... and especially since it'll be winter, you will probably only go to the mall. So you'll have plenty of time to shop around. I used to comb the sales racks every week and only bought things that were under $5!

As for onesies, they will probably be swaddled or under blankets all the time... but instead of onesies you might want to get some snap-front or zip-front sleepers (sleep n plays). The newborn ones have little fold-over sleeves to block their hands so they won't scratch themselves. My kids lived in those daily!

Even if they're predicting a big baby, buy a new sleepers in NB size. C was 10lbs8oz and still wore NB for like 2.5 weeks. The 0-3 SWAMPED her.

I would say have 4-5 NB size sleepers and maybe 2-3 onesies and a couple pairs of pants, plus socks and hats which will be good through 0-3 sizes.

I preferred snap sleepers when she was tiny so that I didn't have to expose her whole torso when I did diaper changes. She was born at the beginning of April in England, so it was cold here.

We liked onesies and pants when she was little. And the little gowns for sleeping (she slept in bed with us though, I imagine its different if you need to put them in a sleep sack for warmth on their own). I would go through the handme downs, and then check out a local used clothing store. Newborn and 0-3 month stuff is usually in really good shape. Get a package or two of plain, white long sleeved onesies.
I don't love footed sleepers because they never seem to fit right. I prefer the ones without feet.
We used the Zutano fleece booties for her feet, with socks if it was really chilly.

I waited until after my baby shower, and then shopped at the consignment store. Then I filled in the holes with a couple GAP sales.

@ElbieKay: all we used were sleep and plays for the first few months. It was easy and you didn't have to yank over his giant wobbly head. So that I all I'd buy if I were you

DD lived in sleep and plays the first 3 months, the only time she was not in one was when we were out and about (she would wear onesies with pants or a dress and tights. Sleep and plays are easy/warm...stick with zipper ones, they are easier to do than the buttons!

Sizing, i would buy one or two newborn sleep and plays, keep the tags and 0-3 months sleep and plays. The reason why I say keep the tags is because some babies are born big and since your baby is due in February you have a lot of time. You really won't know until your baby is here. You can have your SO wash the correct size before bring LO home.

We did skin to skin for pretty much her first week and had her in sleepers the rest of the time. I started using outfits when she was two weeks old, pretty much only because we had received a lot of gifts that I wanted to use.

DS was 9lbs 5oz and we started right with 0-3 month sizes. We had one NB outfit and by 2 weeks it didn't fit.

I liked to put him in a long sleeve onesie with cotton pants or a sleeper. For night we used the gowns under his swaddle. We found this easiest for middle of the night diaper changes.

I would go through your hand me downs first before buying anything. And if you can wait until after your shower that is even better.

Find a good consignment store. You get good items for a lot less.

Try not to over buy newborn clothes. Our little guy rotates between just a few outfits even though we have an entire drawer full of newborn gear. He regularly wears footless pjs, a 5 pack of striped onesies and cotton pants, and he sleeps in gowns. Otherwise he spends a lot of time in just a diaper and is wrapped up in blankets.