We also told our families really early. As we were experiencing fertility problems and I'd get a lot of "poor you" looks, I would quickly say, "If we're not preg. by oct. then we're adopting!" It was a great way for me to look forward to our self-set preg. deadline and a great way to turn conversations to something positive vs. something sad.
Our biography/ questionaire from our agency asked a lot of family questions, specifically about how our family felt/ would accept an adopted child. I don't know how we would have handled it had we kept the news secret. But like Lissa, our families have been very accepting and supportive, in fact- down right gleefull about our adoption news.
I was worried about my step-father who is a vietnam vet and had a bad experience there, and I wasn't sure that since we were adopting from China if he would have difficulty with an Asian grandchild. He and my mom looked and me like I had three heads, basically saying 1) That was a long time ago, 2) I'm adopting from CHINA, do they need to show me a map? and 3) Our baby has nothing to do with political conflict either now or then.
Now that everyone knows it is hard to shut me up about it and people ask for updates constantly. I love being able to share the journey with them. We have a web site up and running and people can't wait until we have referral pictures.
Just a few possible pros for telling sooner vs. later.
