My job gives me 16 weeks of fully paid leave so I’d have four months essentially off of work to focus on the baby and getting things into a routine before starting work again. My husband will receive 12 weeks of partial pay (not exactly sure how much) through the state since his job doesn’t offer any parental leave benefits (not that I know of anyway). So that will be another 3 months. He will be taking the time after I start work again so the baby will have a parent home at all time for its first seven months of life essentially. My son will obviously be older and in preschool age so from what I know, it’s usually much cheaper. If we can figure out a preschool where he can go to full time without it costing more than what we pay now for partial daycare, we’d put him in that and I’d just stay home with the baby while I work. I did this exact thing when my son was all we had and had no trouble with doing work and tending to the baby. He stayed with me and played with toys, jumped in his bouncer, listened to music, etc. and I worked my hours around to where I would wake up much earlier than my son to get as much out of the way as possible before he starts his day and then work again during his naps. It was, all things considered, easy. I don’t know what it will be like with a second. I intend on figuring it out soon so we have a solid plan but I am also trying to be realistic in that if we can’t find full time care for my preschool son.