How do you know you're "ready"?

DigForVictory

We'd already agreed on parenthood as part of matrimony. (We're both a bit keen on children within wedlock.) His "oh somewhere between 3 & 6 children" had his Best Man looking stunned & slightly nauseous. I smiled, but when my favourite of the midwifery team retired, I Took The Hint. Three are enough.

Timing wise, we didn't Plan as the medics thought I wasn't likely to conceive "without assistance" as I have PCOS. So we came back from honeymoon with baggage on board.
The other two showed up on their time and we adapted to accomodate them. Transmogrified. Rewrote the book, revised hopes & dreams, just rebuilt how we lived. Wouldn't have it any other way.

One thing is to be as physically healthy as you both can be. Quit smoking where relevant, lay off the booze by a chunk if not fully onto the waggon, not least as you're in better physical shape for the physical demands of parenting as well as better financial shape for the financial demands.

Best of luck!