GTKY: How Many and Why?

[tomorrowisanotherday]

Tell us how many LO'S you have, want to have, and why!

[tomorrowisanotherday]

I have one boy who is 3 months and I am 90% sure we are OAD. I always imagined having more than one, but hubby only wants one. (He is an only child.) I am happy with our awesome little boy and I can see the advantages of just one, so we will see!

[ashiscute]

I have 4 yo daughter and 2.5 yo son. And we are expecting #3 in July. I have 2 siblings and DH has one so we were planning on 2-3 since that's what we knew. Part of me thinks I could go for 4 but DH is not on board with that at all so he's going to have a vasectomy after this LO comes.

I'm very excited/nervous for 3. My two now are BFF and it worries me a bit to have a 3rd wheel. But I enjoy the craziness and noise so I'm sure it won't be too bad. (Crossing fingers!)

[penguin129]

We were OAD mostly out of fear from the postpartum experience we had last time (an emergency surgery to stop bleeding 24 hrs after my c-section. DH and I decided to put our fear to the side and try again later this year. DH wants another because he is so close to his brother and doesn't want DD to miss out on that. He also doesn't want her to be alone if something happens to us. My brother and I aren't close at all. He sends DD gifts, but that is about it. I am afraid something like that will happen and they won't be close. I really hope DD and her future sibling are really close like DH and his brother.

[Deleted]

We were OAD because kids are expensive, and also because we had a rough experience the first time around. DD was 5 weeks premature and had a kidney defect that required extensive testing at ultimately surgical removal at 14 months old. It's a genetic condition and we were terrified it would happen again. But, after 4 years, we felt we wanted another and I think I held my breath until the 20 week ultrasound where we were told her kidneys were all clear, and at the 2 subsequent ultrasounds where they double (and triple) checked. I had a pretty horrifying birth experience (won't go into details for those expecting or planning for more), but that pretty much ended my feelings of wanting any more children. We haven't done anything permanent to prevent more babies, so there's always that chance. But we are not planning to try for any more.

[Deleted]

Right now I just have one DD. We are planning on TFAS around July when DD turns 2. She's a bit of a handful, so some days I really see the advantage of OAD. Lately I've been really worried about our decision to start trying, especially on days when she wants to fight over every little thing. Mostly it's just feeling that if I'm getting overwhelmed with one, how will I be able to handle 2. I'm really hoping when she starts to talk more, that it'll get better....it's been a rough couple of weeks.

[cam]

I have one shadow shaped like a little boy and two more shadows shaped like dogs. The reasons would require a novel. MH and I always wanted either one or two.

[younglove316]

I have one DD who is 14 months and we are due with #2 in November. This one will be our last for a few reasons, one being that we know kids are expensive and we want to be able to do vacations and activities and such. Also I know my limits and 2 will definitely be it!

[beckyrosen]

I have 2. DS is 11 and DD is 4.5 months. I want to have at least one more. DS has been an only child for 11 years, and with the age gap DD will be the only child for much of her life too since DS will be 18 when she is only 7. So that's why I want at least one more.

[nerdalert]

I have one 5 month old daughter. We think we want to have 3 or 4, but we'll reevaluate after each one. I want a decently long break before we tfas. Maybe 2 or 3 years. I want to be able to just enjoy my DD for a while. I'm also EBFing her and plan to do so for a year, and I just feel like I want my body back for a little while after that.

DH has one sister and they've never gotten along, so he wants more than 2. I have 2 brothers and loved always having someone to play with. So 3 is our minimum as of right now!

[MadisonPenny]

We have a 14 mo. daughter and expecting a son in Sept. H is from a family if 4 and I'm from a family of 2 kids. We're kinda of the mindset that if anothe pg happens after LO2 then great, if not, we're happy with 2.

[namastebiotches]

One boy, 4 in August.
Just want him.
:waves hi to the other OAD ladies here::

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2015 13:44:59 GMT -5 @auri said:

Right now I just have one DD. We are planning on TFAS around July when DD turns 2. She's a bit of a handful, so some days I really see the advantage of OAD. Lately I've been really worried about our decision to start trying, especially on days when she wants to fight over every little thing. Mostly it's just feeling that if I'm getting overwhelmed with one, how will I be able to handle 2. I'm really hoping when she starts to talk more, that it'll get better....it's been a rough couple of weeks.

@auri, just wanted to commiserate on the handful of an almost 2 year old. We have one of those too. Totally opposite from our first DD, so it's been quite the adjustment!

[earthian]

I have a 18 month old dd and a 1 month old ds. We are almost certain that we are done.

Initially I wanted four kids, but that was before we had any children. It feels unrealistic for us to have that many and still be financially stable, and not feel overwhelmed.

If we were to try for a third it won't be for at least 4-5 years. But I really doubt it. We are happy with a family of four.

[gwapes]

I have 1 DS, 2.5.

I wanted 2 or 3. IF says otherwise. So we'll see.

[3timemom]

We have 3 and 1 due in July. I was done with 2. My husband convinced me to try for a boy. #3 was a boy, I was done then but decided against the tubal at that time. Welp here we are again. This will be the last for sure unless a miracle happens. I'm getting my tubes tied during my RCS.

I'm the oldest of 3 and my husband is #4 of 9. He would have that many or more if money wasn't an issue. I can't handle another pregnancy and I'm for sure done this time. I feel we have exactly what we are meant to have.

[gnomesweetgnome]

We have one son who will be two in July, and are planning to foster (and hopefully adopt). We'd like one more (permanent) kiddo as of right now. Maybe a third, but I doubt it.

[honeylemon]

I've been lurking a bit and thinking about playing so I'm just going to jump in. Hi gnomesweetgnome from J13!

We have a 4.5 year old DS (Oct 2010) and 21 month old DD (July 2013) and I'm due next week with our last (team green).

I thought I wanted four kids, but we're definitely done after this one. It actually is my fourth pregnancy (missed m/c in Oct 2012). The PgAL brain along with my struggles with pregnancy and postpartum related depression and anxiety makes me convinced I don't want to put myself or my family through this again. We're very happy and feel so lucky to have these gorgeous kiddos. But we're also ready to move on to the next stage of parenting without all the pregnancy stuff.

[funinthenorth]

I'm new to SAHP too. Hope it's ok to jump right in.

Two boys. 5 - (five and three quarters if you ask him) and 3 months. Hi tomorrowisanotherday,

Early on we thought we wanted 4 or 5. Then after ds1 joined our family we still wanted 1 or 2 more but it took much longer than we thought it would. We eventually came to terms with being OAD and were happily moving forward as a family of three. Then - surprise, welcome ds2. DH had a vasectomy 10 days after ds2 was born....and now I have baby fever. haha. This too shall pass, plus age is definitely an issue now as well.

[sarahandeddie]

I have two amazing girls. They are 4 1/2 and almost 3. I think we are done with two. I would have liked to have one more but DH is sure he's done with two. Now that the girls are getting a bit older our family is starting to feel complete as a foursome.

[KC thepouchh8r]

5yo boy and 4yo girl. I feel like two helps me keep my sanity. I am 98% sure we are done but reserve the right to reevaluate when I have two in school all day. Lol

[raven]

I'm a newcomer to SAHP. I hope you don't mind me jumping right in.
We have DD (almost 4 months). Hello funinthenorth and tomorrowisanotherday
We are still trying to figure out how many we want. DH wants just 2, but I want 3. It depends if or second is a boy or not. If not, we try for 3. (Old fashioned, I know, but DH really wants a son to carry on the family name. He's the last of the line.)

[ashlantic]

Jumping in as well! I've lurked a little bit. I recognize some ladies from my bmb (hello raven, funinthenorth @tomorrrowisanotherday!)
We have one so far- ds, 4 months. We would like one more, but not for a couple of years. We needed Clomid to conceive this lo, and dh and I decided we would try Clomid again if need be, but if it doesn't work then we'd be OAD.

[tomorrowisanotherday]

ashlantic raven funinthenorth Good to see you gals on here! It is always interesting to see crossover from the boards I post on. I am a J 15 mom, OAD, and a SAHM Yay to more posters on this board penguin129... I think you are doing a good job of keeping this board talking!

[penguin129]

I'm trying tomorrowisanotherday! I am probably on here way to much...

[tomorrowisanotherday]

May 11, 2015 13:42:49 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I'm trying tomorrowisanotherday! I am probably on here way to much...

I'm pretty tuned in during the week and then I tend to take a break from technology on the weekends when DH is home. I consider this my "me" time

[3timemom]

May 11, 2015 13:44:56 GMT -5 tomorrowisanotherday said:

May 11, 2015 13:42:49 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I'm trying tomorrowisanotherday! I am probably on here way to much...

I'm pretty tuned in during the week and then I tend to take a break from technology on the weekends when DH is home. I consider this my "me" time

This is how I am. I have more "free" time during the week with kids in school and nap time. Then weekends come and I am gone from the house like all day long.

[AuntShannon]

Can I jump in too? I'm a lurker mostly.

DH and I always wanted 2. But when DS was 6 months, my SIL passed away suddenly and we adopted her DD. So now DS is 17 mo and DD is 4, and I love them to pieces but I'm sad I won't get to feel another baby kick my belly or get to do the baby thing again. I feel like I know so much more now (and finally got treated for PDD) that I want to redo and have a better newborn experience! But at the same time, I remember the sleepless nights and baby who cries when I leave the room and I know my kids will get more attention and opportunities if we have less kids to split our time and finances with. DH has to remind me about every other day.

[gnomesweetgnome]

We have one so far.  We'd like to have at least one more, and that'll probably be it.  The process of procuring kids is not easy for us, so that's a major factor.  That and finances - we want to be able to afford activities, our (fairly low) standard of living, etc., without being too stressed.  Plus it's just easy with two kids, we don't have to buy bigger vehicles (unless we want to), a much larger home, have plenty of time to spend one-on-one with them, etc.  Add in the uncertainty of any special needs our future kiddo may/will have (fostering to adopt for kid #2) and we want to make sure we have time and resources available to deal with all that.

[macchiatto]

I have two and also had a miscarriage (that LO would be 1 now). I would *love* to have another but while we haven't decided for sure yet, DH leans very heavily toward no more.