spacing

bird is 3 days shy of 16m old. 
which means that if i were to be like the majority of people i know of i "should" be 4 weeks pregnant with our second bambino due roughly around the same time is numero uno. i'm happy to report i'm not... especially since i'm not feeling ready across the board; physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. 

with that i'm interested to know what folks think about spacing. 
how do/did you choose? or did fate choose for you? are you happy with your spacing?
i'm well aware that there are different variables for different families.

we know we want more than one kid and frankly, while i would welcome another baby if fate handed us that card, truth is i'm not ready. i see wee ones and while i oooh and ahhh with delight i'm also grateful that's not in my routine right now. sure, like most females, my ovaries ache a little at the thought of holding and snuggling a little guy, but mentally i don't think i could do it with a 16m old. (i guess it's good that i don't have to worry about that since the closest in age our kids could possibly be at this point are 25 months a part haha!)

there are two reasons that started me on this track 
a) i had mastitis about 3 months ago and it was miserable. i caught it early and really only had one bad day where i felt like i was going to die, but none the less i wondered how in the world do moms feel bad while watching a kid... and what about being pregnant with nausea...
i'd like to paint a picture for you; while mister was working and i was coming down with mastitis i locked the door and let stella roam her room while i laid on her bedroom floor with a comforter off and on me. in that hour of time she threw all the shoes out of her closet, knocked the lamp to the floor, and ripped pages out of the Bible. i think you could see how my mind could wonder.

b) recently i keep seeing/hearing more and more pregnancies being very close together. while i send my congratulations i also think 'better them than me' knowing that i would have heart palpitations if it were me. now i don't want this to come off as passing judgement because it's not my family and perhaps a lot of these "number two's" could be surprises. ...and also if in that situation i'd make the best of it and know it would work out because with a positive mindset it always does.

i've come up with some benefits on either scenario.

two years or less-

• already in "baby mode"
• potentially "best friends"
• similar schedules

more than two years-

• the older can "assist" with the younger more
• more 1v1 time with each child (one may be in preschool while time spent with other child)
• only 1 in diapers, bottles, and other wee items
• some sleep catch up in between
• easier to explain to an older child you feel like poop because of morning sickness
• body gets a break
• cost prep

my sister and i are two years a part and mister and his sis are four years a part. both of us are very close with our siblings and only know what we know. i enjoyed that spacing, but again, it's all i've ever known. i liked the idea of it until i realized how soon i'd have to shoot out another baby.

i know there are also other factors in swaying child spacing:

• family salary
• maternal age
• is there a stay at home parent?
• was baby number 1 being a good sleeper
• prior pregnancy and births
• fertility or miscarriage

so tell me, what do you like or dislike about your family spacing? or what do you want and why? don't worry i'm mostly just curious. i'm not about to get pregnant based on comments since i know every family is different and we have a "plan" of our own unless destiny intervenes.

*my sis and i (ages 2/4 ish)