Should I start with AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Developer?

[EmilyVG]

I'm a developer with about three years of experience working with AWS services like EC2 and S3, and I want to formalize my knowledge and advance my career by pursuing certifications. I'm feeling a bit lost trying to plan my AWS Certification Roadmap, as I'm unsure whether to start with the Solutions Architect Associate or jump straight to something more specialized like the Developer Associate, given my background. For those who have successfully navigated multiple AWS certs, what was your logical progression, and how did you balance studying for the exams with gaining the hands-on, practical experience that the tests seem to increasingly demand beyond just memorization?