My hubby is getting deployed after the holidays and we have been considering TTC before he leaves.  I'm 30 and he is 36 and his two kids from a previous marriage are 10 and 8.  The reason I want to try before he goes is:  I don't want my step kids to have an even larger age difference between their younger siblings because I want them to have a relationship together; He will be gone most likely a year so by the time he gets back and we start trying, that's another year + before we have baby number one; I want two kids, because when my step kids graduate high school I don't want to have an "only child" as I want them to have a sibling around to grow up with; we aren't getting any younger!  Being that it would be our first together, it would be hard to not have him around to experience that with me.  Anyone who has gone through it that can share your experiences and advice?  Thank you!