"Why should I wait?" They say that good things come to those who wait. But the truth is, great things come faster to those who don't. What can you do to move your life forward?(REAL LIVES)

... TO HAVE A BABY?

NELLIE, 31, senior financial analyst & single mom

I'VE ALWAYS HAD WHAT my family and friends refer to as "Nellie's Master Plan"--marriage by 24, first child by 26, second child by 30. Everything else happened the way I wanted--I graduated from college and got a great job. I was financially well established. But every guy I dated wasn't sure if he wanted kids, and I didn't want to many the wrong guy just to have children.

I'd joked with my friends about using a sperm donor, but I seriously considered it as a distant plan B. When I turned 28, I thought, If I were married I would already have children, so what am I waiting for? I decided plan B would be plan A.

I chose an anonymous sperm donor with a similar background to mine, whose offspring would look like my family. It took four tries, but on October 31, 2002, my ovulation test was positive and I got pregnant. My son, Dekklan, was born on August 5, 2003.

When I decided to do this, I'd prepared myself for a fight. I live in a conservative area, and single mothers are not looked upon favorably. But my family, friends, and coworkers have been very supportive. My morn keeps Dekklan while I'm at work. And my brother is very close to him.

At the moment, I'm not dating. I'm not ruling it out, but I'm not actively seeking anyone. …