How Many Kids?????????

[belle&beast]

We are done, but I did save a few special outfits that I would miss if we did have another child. I saved home from the hospital outfits, Christening gowns, first Christmas and Easter outfits and a few other things that were our favorites. I had a hard time parting with the teeny tiny clothes, but I sold everything that was in good condition on ebay and we are using the money to go to WDW--we leave tomorrow!

I have a wonderful extended family and should we have a little surprise, we have lots of people that will send gifts- I hardly could use everything we received! I know we are blessed with such a family, but I think it made it easier to sell/donate out kids' things.

 

[budbeerlady]

I think you just know. We always said two, but we had DD (5) and for a year or two later talked about having another. But you just know. One is good for us, it just feels right. Plus when I see siblings fighting in the store I know we make the right decision! You just know what works for you! I hear once a week (I swear) dont you want more than just one. NO thanks! Sometimes I am temped to say (gotta know the out of control non-disciplined children in this family and the parents) shouldnt you have stopped at two? Do what you feel in your heart.

 

[BAYSIDE MOM]

If your youngest is 8 weeks and you are already wondering whether to have another, I bet you will! I always wanted 4 until I had my 3rd. Every one of them was planned and very much loved, but for us the third put us over the edge! We are also "older" parents, so even though I have much more patience now then I did in my twenties, I certainly don't have the energy I did in my twenties! I knew I wanted my oldest daughter to have a sister (something I do not), so when our youngest was a girl that kind of cemented my decision. I had very easy pregnancies and deliveries too, and the kids are all healthy so that made it easier. My kids are close in age, my oldest was 4, when I had the baby, now 20 months, maybe if they were older and a little more independent, that would have changed my mind and we would have gone for #4. . Now that the two oldest will be in school full time soon, I get a twinge for another little one, but at 40 and with the risk of birth defects and being a senior citizen when the youngest gets out of college, I think thats it! keep ypur baby things for a little longer!

 

[llp479]

My first pregnancy was twins, identical girls. We had said when we got married we would maybe have 3. Girls were 3 when dd#3 was born. When she was a year, DH said number 4 was up to me, but don't expect him to get up at night.

By then DH was 46 and I was 34, so I thought about what that meant long term, how old we would be when we were finally "empty nesters" and able to be just the two of us. The twins were honeymoon babies, so we never really had any time to be just the two of us. Had we both been younger, I probably would have had a fourth, but I don't regret not having one.

My SIL&BIL had a miracle baby last year when she was 43 and he was 47. While I love to spend time with her, I'm so glad it's them and not me, and I'm younger than my SIL. Our girls are 12 & 9 and it's so nice not to have to always have a babysitter, or worry about being home when they get home from school.

 

[ladyelle]

We have five children four boys and one girl. The twin boys are 8. The triplets are 6. We were just fine handling the twins and thought a girl might be nice. So, we got 2 more boys for free and life has never been the same. Instant family with 5 under 2 years old.

Needless to say, we are done. Our conversion van only holds 7.

 

[PaulaSue]

DH and I are both only children so we wanted to have 2 or more close together to have each other. We do have cousins but not close to them.

I have 3 and I am done and VERY HAPPY with that. I lost one between first 2 DDs and my 2nd DD's twin early on, besides all the complications (extra surgeries because of the losses and DD's having medical problems, 2 vessel and others after birth) I had with each pregnancy so I had my tubes done after DD3.

I love being preggo, my body doesn't, and love the babies. (I was a Nanny before my own) IF money ever got better and we got a bigger house I have thought of adopting another child. But, honestly I don't think I will have the urge even if all the cards fell into place.

 

[grlpwrd]

I am mom to 5 (4 girls and 1 boy), ages 14, 11, 7, 2.5, and 6mo. It gets crazy sometimes, but my dh and I always wanted 4 or 5 kids.

I know I'm done so I cherish each baby moment.

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

I'm expecting our 4th right now.. (our other three are 11, 8, 2).
Trying to book a Disney trip is getting more difficult!!! I think that is when we know when to stop.. I could have a bunch of them running around..but, paying for private school and yearly trips to Disney..we've got to stop somewhere..Plus, the thought of paying for 3 daughter's weddings!! EEK!!

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Done!!
We have three, Ds 11, Dd 8 & Dd 2 1/2. I thought we were done at 2 but then we were suprised with #3 and I lost it. I didn't know how I felt with that one. I was afraid to have 3. Then when I lost it I felt horrible and like something was missing. So we tried again and she's here!!
I love her so much!! She's definitely the third child and completely different then the other two. I couldn't imagine not having her in our lives. But that's enough. I'm tired! ... "Fixed", finished.!
Dh wants a 4th, no thanks! I told him he has to get pregnant this time and do all those fun things on no sleep the first three months!
Beware of giving things away!! I did that after Dd #1 and had to start all over again, crib and all!! I did save some clothes though...love those pretty little outfits that bring back memeories
Keep them, you might change your mind.

 

[Kelnstephen]

I have one DD age 5 Months in a couple of days. I said when I was in my twenties I wanted no kids. Then me and DH went to Dw in September 2004 stayed at WL and he is 4 years older and said if I wanted kids that when we got back home was the time. When we were on Vacation I was still thinking no but all of a sudden at the end of October I threw out the Birthcontrol. What the Heck Well 6 weeks later I was Pregnant and Had DD in August of 2005. So at age 30 I Have number one. And I want one more. I thought one would be it but no. So we have decieded to try for Number 2 in 2007 so I have my second around 33 years of age. I Did have a c-section which was planned by the doctors and will have another c-section second time around. But I was out of the hospital less than 48 hours so I recovered quick. But I couldn't imagine life without kids what was I thinking? I think I had so much freedom and went were ever I wanted and on vaction when ever. But we still can afford Disney once a year. I Would love to stay home with DD But I had to go back to work. We are building a new house but I'm lucky my mother owns a daycare. So we got to Grammy's House 4 days a week.

Kelly

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I have 4. My son is 7, and my girls are 12, 5, 3. My son would love to have a baby brother and we would like to have another child oneday. I do have a feeling of being incomplete, I love babies and miss having one around, but the longer I wait to have one, the more I almost change my mind. I don't miss the diaper changing, lol

 

[rt2dz]

Everybody has their own magic number and different reasons for reaching it. My sister quit one shy of the planned 4 due to a difficult pregnancy. Another sister was totally dismayed to find herself pg with #3, two was all they could afford. I had a friend say she didn't want the kids to outnumber them. Another friend said two hands, two kids. I know people who don't think they could love another one as much as they love the one they have. Or are afraid of how to have two. Some people quit because of age. Some just never get pregnant again. My neighbor couldn't conceive, was told it was impossible. Went through IVF, got quads. At 1, she got pg. Wasn't using birth control b/c she didn't think it was possible. 3 months after having that one, birth control failed and she had #6. They both took permant measures to prevent a 7th.

As for me, I had a horrible rotten pregnancy my first time. It was awful. 9 months of morning sickness where I thre up on the hour every hour. I was on limited activity. I couldn't drive, I was having black outs due to the way he kicked nerves. His kicking broke 3 of my ribs. I went through 24 hours of labor (hard labor, I don't count the pre-stuff). My life was on the line and he went into distress. I had emergency c-section that left me in horrible shape. I couldn't even stand up straight for two weeks. During this time, I was planning the second. He was the worlds best baby--slept through the night before he was one month. I wish I knew how lucky I was and could have appreciated him. The payoff with the pregnancy was worth it.

My second pregnancy was worse--much, MUCH worse. And I had a 2 year old. I was on bedrest. I kept going into premature labor. I was supposed to have a vbac, but wound up with emergency c-section #2. He came down with RSV at 2 weeks and had many complications which has kept him quite sick. He almost died several times. At two, he still doesn't sleep through the night. He is beyond active and keeps me running. He can be quite needy. He doesn't understand the word "no" and comes up with amazing things. A cat in the freezer wouldn't even cause me to blink. To call him "high maintance" is being so exteremly nice. EVERYONE knew I was done. Anyone who has a child (either attitudeor illness--and we had both) and/or pregnacy like that quits. Except me. I knew I was having a third.

Pregnancy #3 was much more like my first. Still not good, but good for me. I have another 4 month little angel, although not as good as my first. And I'm pretty sure I'll have that fourth.

I don't feel outnumber at all. DS4 sits on my side, and DS2 and DS4 months share my lap. When we go out to eat, DH and I sit across from each other, next to one child and one in the middle. We accept out children for who they are and work with their personalities. I think we realistic going into it, which helps a lot.

I will have that fourth close in age (no bigger than a just 3 year age difference). I too long to be out of certain stages and find having the two so close in age is better than the 3 year age gap I have is so much nicer. Oh well, I can go on, but I wouldn't. This is long enough.

 

[jodifla]

We are one and done.

I'm surprised at all the big families. Don't think I even know anyone personally who has more than two!

 

[AdventurerKat]

When people ask me if I am done having kids, I say I am 99.9% sure I am. Its the .1% that keeps me from doing anything permanent about it.

I have two DS, 6 and 2.5, and for some reason people seem to think my life is not complete without having a girl too. I used to think the same way but I don't anymore. I am happy with my two little guys and I don't think I will have anymore children. I did, however, get a female kitten. And believe me, she's a handful!

 

[disney50fam]

I have 5 *see sig*
10, 8,6,5,and 2 in march....

I am done TRUST me. that I was done after 3 but hello my girls wanted to be born I guess.. LOL

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

We have 2 boys 6year old twins. I don't know if we are done yet or not. I'm still about 50/50. One of my sons wants a sister and told me to stop taking that pill that stops me from having a baby In reality I am not sure I can have just one because I needed help with the twins.

 

[RobInBigKC]

We have four amazingly wonderful boys -- ages 13, 10, 7, and 4. There were times (especially during the twelve years of diaper changing) that I envied those families with only two children -- like when we we're car shopping or trying to do things out in public like get a seat at a crowded restaurant or a room that will affordably sleep the whole family at WDW (Fort Wilderness cabins anyone?).

DS13 and DS10 thrilled us and I probably would have felt complete at two kids but, now that he's in our lives I absolutely, positively, don't see how I could have ever lived without DS7. He has some amazing talents that my first two DS's didn't have (although they each do have talents of their own) and a competitive and leadership style (at age 7) that I am in awe of.

I'm sure DS4 will continue to grow on me as well and will show why he is unique (besides the unique manner in which he finds ways to misbehave -- after 3 boys, I would have thought I'd seen it all!).

Four boys all with their own unique personalities yet at the same time similar enough to know they are brothers. The best thing about four boys is that there's always something happening (except for those roughly six hours each night when all four are asleep at the same time)!

The reason we have four? It just felt right to us. It was also the number we agreed on before we ever got married -- she (the only child) originally wanted 12 while I (with one sister) originally wanted 2 -- we compromised at 4. But 13 years into the marriage, when we decided to stop, I think we would have had more if we still wanted to regardless of what we said before we married.

I have to say that me going under the knife was a leap of faith (in more ways than one) because we weren't fully sure that it was time to stop but we have since felt happy and content with the four we have and never regretted the decision (although I imagine the desire to have another might hit some when our DS4 heads off to school next year and the house is empty during the schoolday).

-- Rob

 

[Whosemom]

As one of three mysself, I always wanted 4. Two always play together, (or ride together at the parks ) and one feels left out. Its not always the same two, just that, hmmmm, how many CAN play checkers? So an even number was in the plans.

But then having #3, he got "stuck" so I got the mega-long active labor AND a c-section. It was a nightmare. Then, at 8 weeks he developed RSV, and was quite sick for that whole first winter. And my thought was, if you can guarentee an easy birth and healthy baby-time, I'm up for it! But of course there are no guarantees, and frankly I was tired. DH too.

But still we waited to decide. We started having those baby urges at about the same time after #1 and #2, about 15 months, so we waited until #3 was that old to give our "FINAL ANSWER". And it was "done".

And I DO feel our family is complete, although I frequently suspect I was correct 4 would be easier than 3. But what the heck, DH will retire the same year DS graduates, so it was the right decision in more than one way.

 

[lillygator]

We have two princesses, 3 and 11 months....I had awesome pregnancies and loved being pregnant although I am on the fence whether to have more children or not simply for selfish reasons.

My DH would like a team of some sort though....I told him we can just have fun trying!

 

[cakesnkids]

We have three, one boy sandwiched in the middle of two girls, which worked perfectly for us. Someone else said ti I am sure, but it's a choice that's very personal, I have 3, my sister one, and my mom has one the same age as my oldest which she adopted, so it's all relative to wehre you are in life and what your wants are. I personally know that we can't afford more than 3, and I had a hysterectomy due to medical reasons and am glad that I had my 3 when I did.