Every Thursday Metro Mama writes about issues facing parents in our crazy slice of heaven.

I have one and a half packs of birth control left. Should I order 3 more months supply from our HMO pharmacy, or is time to start thinking of having another baby?

Some parents give this a lot of thought, planning the next one, and some don’t give any. My husband and I have a weekly discussion (or argument) about whether or not we want another child. My answer is almost always yes, but he flip-flops back and forth. Parenting is a lot of work and not always easy.

Sure, remembering back, those days with my darling infant were wonderful. That delightful new baby smell, those darling little clothes…but we also remember the sleepless nights, nighttime feedings and general lack of sleep. Now we have an adorable toddler, and yes she can smell like a baby after her bath, the effect doesn’t last as long as I remember it used to. And clothes, all of a sudden she’s had a growth spurt and those 3T pants we bought before the winter season are now too short! It’s time to buy some new ones, but try finding warm pants at this time of year? All the stores are selling spring and summer outfits. Only capris and shorts are in abundant supply.

But back to babies, in my previous stay-at-home-mom’s group, another mom was ready to get pregnant after 6 weeks of having given birth to her son! Now me on the other hand, I wanted to wait at least 2 years. She did end up having another son about 18 months later, and now all the other moms have had their second child.

My older sister and I were 4 years apart, but my younger sister, there is only14 months difference! Just think of the hell my mom went through. It’s almost like having two babies at once and that’s just crazy. It was unplanned, but we always called her a mistake. Needless to say, I was a neglected and troublesome middle child (typical no?).

Now while 4 years seems like too far, it actually has some advantages with school and college spacing (and money for college as my husband always brings up). My younger sister was always a year behind me and we fought like sisters do (she always stole my clothes!). But, she has always been the closest to me, and we are now best friends. And now my older sister and I are also closer than we were growing up, a common theme I hear from other further spaced out children.

Then I heard reports that you should wait at least 18 months before conceiving after giving birth. We definitely would wait that long, but then another bump in the road; I decided to go to grad school.

Now, say if I got off the pill in March and got pregnant immediately (unlikely) I’d still be able to complete grad school and graduate with my class. Then of course then there is actually the job of making the baby, which as married people and parents know, we hardly have time, or make time for. But I’ll save the sex column for another week.

Being a parent definitely has it high and low moments, but I wouldn’t trade anything for a chance to snuggle with my daughter and hear the words “I love you momma.” So, it looks like we will be trying for another baby this year (and it better be another girl I say - he is hoping for a boy)! That is, of course, on the chance I catch my husband on the week he wants a baby.