I have a 4 year old and a 10 month old
my 4 year old sits in this behind me:
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...ed=0CGUQ5Q0wAA
as a new born our second was in this:
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...ed=0CHkQ8wIwAg
easy to use with our graco snap and go stroller...
around 6 months we switched our youngest to this:
http://www.thefirstyears.com/product...6?locale=en_US
it's both rear and forward facing....
both the above seats fit fine when rear facing...my wife is 5'5" and enough room when sitting in the front seat....
once your child is big enough to go forward facing you'll have plenty of room no matter what...
eventually our youngest will get the recarro and the oldest will get a booster recarro if timing and size work out that way...
congrats and good luck with your decision