[takingtheplunge]

Welcome. Up to two is not considered a little older. Two is still considered young by foster adoption standards. Also, since you want to adopt, and not foster, they will probably want to place a baby that is a min. of 9 months younger than your 19 month old. So, by the time you are done, you are looking at a child 15 months or younger. Even though you might not mind two at two'ish, they like to keep a natural birth order. I assume there are always exceptions.

yes, the county will probably take longer not due to case loads but because classes are once a week and wait time to start the classes. The agency will move you through the paperwork quicker.

However, I will always say that in a high need area, you should go with the county if you are set on adoption. You'll get info from the source (not translated though the agency that gets it from the county) and you get first opp. for placements over agency home. These are huge benefits that to me outweigh time. IMHO
I bet if you compare time from start to 100% finish, you are only looking at 4 months dif. You could waste more time waiting for the angecy to get the county's overflow of children.