ours was sort of decided for us. We had gone through years of infertility treatments and decided that whatever we got out of one pregnancy would be it. Originally I was pregnant with triplets and we lost one baby at the end of my 2nd month, so we have twins. But, DH and I have one sibling each, so I never though about a big family; two or three kids was always what i had in mind.

It's funny how, after all we went through, people who know nothing about me will say to me "boy/girl twins -- how easy, get it all done at once." I am thinking, "you have no idea."

Thanks for sharing the beautiful photo -- brought back many fond memories. Although, I have to say, the babies look tiny to me -- my twins were 7 lbs 6 oz, and 8 lbs.

that we sat down and decided we were going to have seven kids.  I think we always knew we wanted at least four, but after that, it was just a one at a time decision.  I know that we thought that maybe we'd stop at six, but at about the time to make the decision a permanent one, I pulled back.  For whatever reason, I felt that we were going to have one more.  And we did.  I knew during that pregnancy that this was it. Afterwards, when I became very ill I was told that another pregnancy would be life threatening, but I wasn't at all bothered by the idea of never doing it again because I'd already decided that we were done.

I'm still glad I had my twins first!

and talked this out then.  I always knew I wanted to adopt, and he always wanted 4-6 kids.  We realized we'd have no more than 2 biological children (barring twins in our second pregnancy) and then we'd adopt domestically out of the foster care system.

Now we've got our two biological kids, and are figuring out when to adopt (after we move to Portland).

her second girl. I am so happy for her - and so glad it's not me.

I always knew I wanted two children. Now I think I wouldn't mind having three, but DH is done (and to make his point that he was, he went out and had a vasectomy). So we won't be having any more. I don't think I'd push him to adopt if it's really not what he wants. But I do feel pangs sometimes.

This a gorgeous picture - congrats to all!

I always wanted to have two kids because (1) I don't want an only child to shoulder the burden of aging parents all by himself and (2) he needs someone to complain to about his crazy parents who will always completely understand. I always wanted a significant age difference between them because the happiest years of my youth were when my older sister went to college and I had the house and my mom to myself for four years. Besides, it's easier this way.

My BF is pregnant with her third-- on purpose! Her oldest will be 3 when it's born, her middle child will be a mere 18 months. Sounds like a recipe for crazy to me but everyone has their own reasons, and she's very happy, and that's all that matters.

The complications I had with my second child decided the number of children we would have for my DH.  He can't handle the thought of losing me, so he says he's done.  We have considered adopting more, but with our incomes being what they are, we feel we can comfortably provide for the two we have now (college, ect.), and if we added any more kids, we would move from "comfortably providing" to "just getting by".

after we had DD. Now 5 years later we are 7 months pregnant with another little girl. I was so happy with Darling Girl, so fulfilled, I just didn't know if we needed to add anything else. I admit, even this far into the pregnancy I still have moments of blinding panic, "What have we done?" "Can we handle this?" "What will happen to our family?!" but mostly I am really excited.

Its sad to think though this will be the last time I am pregnant. But I am a sucker for endings, they always make me blue.

but I'm really loving the smiles on Mom and Dad!

It's not like we set out to have five kids, a family you can hardly buy a house to fit, a family you need a minivan to tote around, a family that draws stares in public.

I didn't want #1 to be an only. He was born just before I turned 20. When #2 was born, I knew right away that we'd have more kids. I was still in the hospital in the day or two they give you after the birth, and talking about the spacing for #3, and they thought I was crazy. We were enjoying our three boys so well that we decided to have #4. He was a boy, and dh had always wanted a girl from the first time.

After four boys, I wanted my daughter to be twins because it would have been so nice for her to have at least one sister to grow up with amongst all that testosterone. Well, the pregnancies with ds#4 and dd knocked something off kilter in my hips to the point I could barely walk during my last pregnancy. I couldn't have another if I wanted. And somehow, while I was expecting her, it felt right that she was our last.

Now I'm 35, and my youngest is at the same stage the others were when we'd add another sibling. I truly have no desire for more, no wistful longings, no indecision. Done.

I'm one of four, DH is one of three.  We both always said three was the perfect number.

But with two our family feels complete, just right.  I sometimes think it would be nice to add a third - I never did get that daughter we'd planned on - but we haven't reopened the conversation.

Congratulations to your friend. They look over the moon!

This is an ongoing discussion between the two of us. We're working on making #2, so we're at least going for two (touch wood). I think DH would like at least three, as he's one of four. But I'm one of two, and I think I'll kind of feel done after two. But I can't say that for sure yet; I think it's a matter of just feeling "that's enough."

wow, they really do look ecstatic.. how sweet.  and they look like pretty good size twins too!

we have 4 kids.  when i was younger, i wanted 5.  then when i adopted two as a single mom, i knew two was perfect.  even after i met my husband, i had no desire to adopt or give birth to more.  but a surprise pg which ended in miscarriage changed all of that.  suddenly, i was grieving for a baby who had slipped through the birth control pills.  charlie was conceived in the weeks after that miscarriage, not trying to conceive, but not trying to prevent either.  i am a terrible pregnant woman... sick the whole time, not enough room for the both of us, etc.  so i was never gonna be pg again ever.  once charlie was born, i almost immediately wanted 4... i know a good bit of that must be hormonal.  i was very much looking forward to adopting our 4th child.  well.. despite advanced degrees in our heads of household, we just never got very good with birth control... and a missed vasectomy ended in another pregnancy when charlie was just 8 mos. old.  i am now very, very glad it worked out this way, but if you had asked me a year ago, in the misery of pg and a summer full of bedrest with three little kids to take care of, i'd have had a very different answer.  abby was well worth all of that, i can now say in hindsight.

but i find myself still wanting to adopt that child i thought we would before abby became a possibility.  i can't quite let go of the idea of a family of 7.  but honestly i keep trying to ask myself how much of this is my complete addiction to babies.  i LOVE babies. i just love the giggly, smiley, sweetness that comes with not being able to talk.  each baby in our house was more demanding than the one before, but i would still love 100 more babies to come our way (though not through my body, thanks).  yet what i keep trying to ask myself, in my best grown-up voice is, will i really want 5 kids?  talking, needing, arguing, sharing, wanting, PEOPLE who have more complicated needs than rocking and feeding and smiling and waving.  if i am honest, i think four is probably plenty in that department, but the idea of this being my last baby is heartbreaking.  i need to work in a nursery.

I had my first at 37, and if I am going to have another, which I'd like, it better happen any day since I'm now 39.  But two sounds right to me.  I have a cousin with five (twins at the end) and a friend with five (triplets in the middle).  They are wonderful kids, and seem a lot better behaved than many kids I know from smaller families, but there is no way.  I just know it's not in me, although who knows how I'd feel if I'd had kids younger.

When my mom got pregnant for the third time, I was 4 & my brother was 2.  She wanted a larger family, but her mom took my dad aside and said, "What are you doing?  You know there are things you can get at the drug store to prevent this!"  My dad said, "I'm not forcing her, she wants more."  But they stopped there, although I've never asked her why.  I even begged them to try for a sister when I was 7 or 8 and they said, no, we're done.  So when you know, you know.  

I don't feel "done" yet in any way, shape or form. I yearn to have another baby. I too am a victim of the crazy baby lust...never knew until I had my first how much I would love it!

We've decided on two kids, hopefully. But if we won the lottery tomorrow, I would happily have a couple more.

Sadly, for me, its not about the number of kids--its the number of pregnancies.  I'm already on one more pregnancy than I wanted, but the miscarriage only inflicted two weeks of misery.

So far, knock on wood, I'm 19 weeks and all is well.  No problems at all were seen yesterday at the ultrasound.  So, it seems our family will be complete when our son is born this fall.  I could add one more child.  But I can NEVER go through pregnancy again.  I'm too sick, I'm too miserable, and DH has to take on too much to get me through it.  And unfortunately, DH is not on board the adoption train.  So, its two for me.

But with one 4yo son and, ahem, unexpected twins on the way, that number's been upgraded to three....

We bought the minivan today, but we're hoping they'll be staying inside until, oh, late September or so... (due date in mid-late Oct).

We really didn't want to be outnumbered. So much for that plan!

-Cheryl