Okay, I keep getting distracted. I also wanted to agree with Anne and say that having 3 *is* hard. My husband works a lot so often it's just me and the kids. But I will never forget the day, not long after by third was born, I was walking down the neighborhood street, wearing my baby, pushing my three year old on his tricycle with my 6 year old walking ahead and I felt so RICH.

Oh Patience, I'm happy you found the time to comment, I had that same feeling of things being complete after having Emmy. It's nice to remember that feeling because it sometimes gets lost through the fog of sleepless nights, teething and potty training.

I LOVE Patience's line, " Even without kids I'm prone to getting tomato sauce on a white shirt."

I suppose that with more children, you just have more excuses !!!

I think it's funny that when I'm out with my three kids, people comment that I have an "army." Is three considered a lot these days?
One of my favorite memories is walking back to the car from a picnic lunch at a park with some friends. I was in my second trimester with the third and my 3 year old was holding one hand and my 5 yr old was helping me carry the little cooler, I had on a cute outfit and the boys were just happily chatting away about their time with their friends and I thought, "OK, I can do this. Having three is going to be fine."
After my third was born, I remember taking them out to get some supplies and I had a son holding on to each side of the stroller. I remember telling myself that there was room for two more hands to hold onto the stroller. I must have been still crazy with post partum hormones for daydreaming about 5 kids! Hee-hee!

I meant to reply to this post but didn't have time. I am 36, I have a 4.5yo and a 2yo, and I am 95% sure that we're done. My pregnancies were uneventful, and the 2nd baby was the easiest baby ever. I did have postpartum issues with my SI joints that haven't gone away, which makes me wary.
When I was growing up, it was very rare that anybody had more than 2 kids. I have one sister who is much younger, so I am technically an only child. My husband comes from a big family, and he wouldn't mind having more children, but he also knows that it's much harder logistically and would affect our lifestyle - bigger house, bigger car, etc., and it's not something we want to take on.
What Patience said about individual time vs. family time really resonated with me. Maybe I am not very maternal, but I really miss having my own time. It was worse when I was staying at home, but even now there are a lot of things that I want to do by myself, or with my husband. I don't want to sound like I am a neglectful parent, quite the opposite - I am one of those obsessive moms that has to control every drop of food their children eat. Maybe that's why I feel like it's too much work

Patience and Marianne -- I am totally with you about the time issue. It's only been recently that I've started carving more and more time out for myself. And I feel great about pursuing my interests! I don't think it's a matter of being less maternal, since they (parenting experts) say a happy mom is good for the whole family. It's just a matter of what fufills you. For some, it's about the family. For others, work. For others, an avocation. If you haven't already, please please please try to get some time to do something for YOU.

This thread was awesome! I don't have any children but am not averse to the ideal. I have six god-children and one niece, so i fall into the category of "ask auntie for the expensive gift that we can't get you since she doesn't have any kids of her own" lol.

In response to the original question I really believe that it is a personal and a physical choice. If you and DH are on the same sheet of music and your health is in agreement then go for it! Good luck with whatever decision you and DH decide!