again..this is far from my strong point here.. I just chimed in, because I recently used Optiloader approach.. and also had run this same process with a custom board).
For your first step..
getting a bootloader onto your new/blank chips (when they arrive)..
1.) you will need to decide HOW you want to do this?... you can choose:
a.) use Arduino as ISP approach
b.) Optiloader approach
**Note.. if you like.. more advanced users do not even use a bootloader, and they write sketches directly to their boards...to take advantage of more space, that the bootloader usually consumer..however that is beyond me
for approach 'a' above.. there are many tutorials..and diagrams..
such as this one: http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoISP
(google will probably yield eve more)
for approach 'b' above... you will do as I outline in the previous post(s) 
If you want to do other chips.. I suggest learn how to you use the Optiloader approach.. I think it can do/detect different chips. (ask to be sure though)...