Timing Is Everything

So now that we're on the baby train (or at least in the station), the question is when. When would be the best time to have the baby? So we talked about it and came up with our terms.

Our Terms: Things that need to be in place before the baby comes:

1. We need to keep our current careers/incomes or earn more. Any less than what we've got now won't do.
2.  We need to have a room at the house for the baby either by keeping the floor plan the way it is, or by adding on the master suite as we’ve planned.
3. We need to have done some more traveling. That’s the only experience I’m really missing in my life right now.
4. We need to have spent an acceptable amount of time together as a couple without children and experienced all that that has to offer including last minute trips, breakfasts in bed, weekend getaways, parties, dance classes, relaxing at our house, etc. I think we're ok on this one since we will have been together about 15 years(!!!!) by the time the baby is born. 
5. We need to have a clear and concrete plan about the division of duties for the baby, parenting styles, and day-to day timelines for infancy, toddler years, preschool & kindergarten ½ days, and finally while in school. This plan needs to include money for college, enriching activities for the baby, weekend planning, and down and away time for us.
6. We need to create a baby budget including upfront and monthly costs.

We’ll have to get started on this stuff and see what comes of it.