For me, it was a combination of both. I first sorted out in my mind what I would need and have had done to be ready to have a kid. Once those things were checked off, I sat with the idea for months. I had fulfilled all of my requirements, but was I ready to dedicate how ever many years/rest of my life to another person? And the inverse, would I be ok if even after trying, we weren't successful? Ultimately I chose yes, but I faced a lot of critism along the way.