In a perfect world, there are a myriad of factors one should consider even before contemplating pregnancy. Wanting to have a baby, or an additional one, is different from being ready for one.

Like Rachael, I've initially wanted to have two kids not too far apart in ages. It didn't work out that way, though; I got the number of kids right, but there's a gap of more than 5 years between them. We didn't plan them that way. Actually, we didn't plan at all. We knew we wanted to have a second child, but well, life got in the way, I guess.

Sure, it feels like starting all over again. My first child will be starting school soon, and were it not for my second baby, I would have had more time for myself, more opportunities to pursue interests that I previously didn't have the time and energy for. On the other hand, I couldn't imagine how we could have handled a second child before now- financially, emotionally, physically.

Read Rachael's mind as she contemplates having a second child. These were my exact same thoughts just a couple of years ago, but as she said, sometimes, life simply doesn't turn out the way we think it would.