lens set up

i have always loved to shoot nature/animals and am ready to get a little more serious. i was just wondering what lens most of you guys/gals use? i have a limited budget due to a little one on the way and in the market for a house. i already have a canon 70-300 4/5.6 IS. i would like the 17-55 2.8 for shorter range and mabye a 100 2.8 macro. but i was thinking if i get the 17-85 4/5.6 is. then i would be able to get the macro and the 17-85 along with a tripod for just alittle more than a 17-55. so what do you guys think? i thought this would give me a overall good set up untill i could afford something alot faster, but then again that is one of the main reasons of getting the tripod. any oppinions would be great thank you.

While I own the 17-85 and consider it to be an adequately serviceable lens, I don't think it can compare with what I have seen of the 17-55, IQ-wise. Furthermore, with the little one on the way, you will probably have many opportunities for indoor, relatively low-light shots. The one-stop advantage of the 17-55 will probably come in very handy in those instances. Your 50mm might not always be wide enough in those situations.

In addition, you might want to consider buying a good flash, EX-430 perhaps, before the macro stuff.