Now that Brody will be four-years-old this summer, we're starting to hear the inevitable question. Yep...you guessed it..."When are you going to start trying for another baby"? Our family and friends have started to put on the full-court press and we're certainly getting their drift.

Even before Brody was born, when Ted and I started talking about having a family, we always assumed we'd try to have kids close in age. We both grew up with siblings close in age and it seemed only natural to take a page in our parents' book and follow suit. Thing is, ever since Brody has arrived, time has seemed to speed up on us. Late-night feedings, diaper changes, cruising, crawling, walking, babbling, talking, play dates, potty training, preschool....whew..and here we are already! It all goes by in the blink of an eye. Now, the three of us are in a great groove. Brody is an independent, mobile, outspoken little guy. We can travel with him without packing up the entire house. When he cries, he can tell us why he's upset. He sleeps-in like a champ on the weekends. I must admit, even though we definitely want to add to our family, the thought of starting from scratch sometimes freaks me out!

Then again, it's hard for me not to get that familiar "baby bug" when holding the newest addition to our extended family. My second nephew, Gavin, was just born on Super Bowl Sunday. Seeing his adorable little face, touching his soft skin, and breathing in that sweet baby smell is almost intoxicating! Despite being sleep-deprived, my sister and brother-in-law have that beautiful new-baby glow. Even Brody is a bit mesmerized by his cousin's arrival. Now when we ask him if wants a baby brother or sister, he shakes his head 'yes'.

Many of our friends are already families of four. I keep telling myself that I have a few more things to cross off my "leap list" before taking the leap and having a second child. When I mention this to my mom, she kindly reminds me that something will always come up. Deep down, I know that she's right. Family planning is obviously a very personal choice. Still, I'd love to read about what has worked for your family. What are the pros and cons of having kids close in age or waiting a while in between kiddos? Drop me a line with your opinion. I know that just like the first time around, (and God willing) Ted and I will jump into that unknown territory when we're ready. That's also what we tell people when they ask us about having another little one. We're enjoying our family dynamic and taking our time. So for now, I'm just going to ignore that little tick-tock in the back of my head!