If you could have picked your family composition (number, order, gender and spacing kids) what would it be? Options

[Amelia Jane]

I had always wanted boys, like others, I couldn't imagine myself with a girl. But I am completely and utterly thrilled with what we have now, and if it turns out the scan was wrong and we end up with the other gender then that's okay too. I cannot imagine being disappointed with this little kicky rolly babe in my belly, no matter the gender.

Next time I don't think I'll find out because I'll be completely happy with either gender, having two boys/two girls or one of each suits me just fine, I am totally not fussed.

I've never had an ideal number or spacing in my head, I would like at least two but we will just see what happens. All I thought of when I was growing up is that I'd like to complete my family by the time I am 28, well, I'll be 26.5 when this little one is born so I don't think I'll be having another one before 28.

If I was forced to choose, I'd choose a boy first, followed by another boy in about 2-3 years. But I am really glad I don't have to choose.

[Lisa~Lu]

Once upon a time, I wanted 5. When I had DD I was convinced she was a boy, but was thrilled she was a girl.

I wanted a 2nd from the time she was 3 months old, but 5 years of single parenting made that impossible. My now DH and I started TTC'ing for #2 just over 3 years ago, and have yet to be successful. Realistically now I know my dream of 5 is a pipe dream, and I'll be lucky to get another 1, and I'm not concerned about gender 1 iota. That said, I do belive if we do have another it will be a boy.

If things were different, and I was ordering my family online, I would have 5, probably 3 girls and 2 boys, with 2 - 3 years between each.

[hanes]

Before TTC I had planned 3 children. Ideally at least one of each sex and another girl (since I had a long list of girls names and such a short list of boys ones ) I never really considered my preferred age gaps. 4 years was the norm within my family. Although I had a friend who had 3 boys within 3 years and she was completely overwhelmed so I knew I didnt want them close.

After 2 m/c's all those ideas were swept out the door. I just wanted one healthy baby. Finally, after Annabelle was born we were thrilled to actually have 1 and since I found feeding and settling into motherhood more difficult than I expected I was definately not considering another one anytime soon. But, within a couple of months everything settled and we began to think another might be nice. Apparently, my body thought so too and we conceived within a month of my period returning.

Now, Im finding two toddlers a lot harder to manage than either of them in the newborn phase. And while we'd definately like a third, finances and managing three under 5 are definately constraints for us.

In terms of the gender of the next one, I have to admit, I think I'd love another boy. They are so much more cuddle and affectionate than girls and I dread to think of dealing with Annabelle's teenage attitude let alone dealing with TWO teenage girls. Mind you, whatever we have would be well loved.

[Magnolia]

Pre ttc - I always thought I wanted 2. Perhaps a 3rd would be ok. All close in age.

I always wanted a boy first, girl second.

Reality - I got my boy first am am so happy with him I feel that's enough, at the moment anyway. I have no desire to have another one in the foreseeable future. But if we were to go back for #2, I think I would like a larger age gap. Maybe 4 years? Funnily enough, I think I would choose another boy over a girl. I love my little man to bits, I would love a carbon copy of him.

[sjm]

Pre ttc I wanted 3, 2yrs apart, boy, girl, boy. Purely so the boys could "protect" the the girl

When we fell with Nate, I had an instinct he was a boy all along, so much that I painted a wall blue in his room and told DH it could pass as purple if he was a girl
With Dane I wasn't fussed, a girl would have been nice and I knew DH wanted a girl, he has 3 older sisters so I have no idea why he would want another girl in his life . When he came out a boy, it felt right to me.
People were saying we would have to go back for a girl, but I told them that I saw us with 3 boys, and I did.

We have found out that this precious bub is a boy. I wasn't disappointed when we found out but I did have a moment where I was sad I wasn't able to give DH his little princess that he wanted, but we are delighted to be able to have 3 boys. I absolutely can not wait to meet our little man, I just now need to convince Nate that because he thinks we need a girl bubby that it doesn't always happen like that

[Stoked]

I don't know that i could pick?
But i'm pretty happy with what i have so i guess i would pick what i have?

A boy & another of either sex just shy of 3 years apart

[bluenomi]

I always wanted 2 or 3 kids with a girl first. I have 3 sisters and most of my friends have girls so boys are just something I don't know how to deal with so I wanted something I knew about first.

When I got pregnant I was convinced I was having a boy, probably to prepare myself in case it was Turns out she was a girl and DH and I were both very surprised when she arrived!

Now I think I'd be happy with 2 kids. DH only wants one or two so 3 is out of the question anyway. I swing between wanting another girl and having a boy depending on the day but I do know there is no way I'm having another one before DD is 3. 2 of my sisters are 23 months apart and they have scared me for life of having kids that close together. Morning sickness also put me off geting UTD again anytime soon!

[SEA]

With my first, I really didn't think about the gender. I was convinced that I was having a boy, and he was. I didn't have a preference either way, but if I could have chosen it would have been to have a boy, for both my husband and Dad. I'm an only child, and while Dad loved me to bits I think he wished they'd been able to have a boy too.

This time, I'm feeling rather the same way. I would love a little girl, as I have such a close relationship with my Mum and would love to have the same thing, but I'm honestly not fussed either way. As long as the baby is healthy, that is all I care about.

We had planned to have a biggish gap between our children, and a three year gap has worked out well. It was a few months earlier than planned, but I think it will be good. I had a hard time after Henry was born, and really needed some time to get myself better before we contemplated another child.

[la_jeune_mariée]

I don't really care about the gender but if I have two of the same I'd rather have two boys than two girls. A small part of me would like a little girl, followed by a boy 3.5 years later. Time will tell

[Lee Lee]

For me I always wanted 2 kids of the same gender. Before we had them I never thought about how far apart they would be.

But I am thankful for my 2 boys. If my first had of been a girl I would of been happy with 2 girls. I never wanted one of each. My DH would of liked to of had a little girl, but he didn't want 2 girls.

I grew up with an older brother and we aren't close so I was hoping that if I had 2 of the same they would be friends. And with the 17 month age gap I am hopeful they are friends.

Funny thing is whenever I am out with the 2 boys I always gets comments from older ladies that have teenage boys close in age that talk about what good friends they are

People are asking me if I am going to try for a girl which we aren't as we wanted 2 kids not a boy and a girl.

[bluenomi]

I don't really care about the gender but if I have two of the same I'd rather have two boys than two girls. A small part of me would like a little girl, followed by a boy 3.5 years later. Time will tell

To me the idea of 2 boys was a nightmare I was hoping for a girl first partly so I wouldn't have to worry about ending up with 2 boys, I don't think I could cope with that.

[Cole29*]

I always wanted 2 kids. Boy then girl. A couple of years apart. Now obviously I have some degree of control over the number, and to some extent the spacing

Growing up I always wanted the same Puggie and I think for me it was because that is the family I grew up in, me and an older brother with a 2.5 year age gap, I had a happy childhood so it just seemed right if that makes sense.

I do recall a short period in my teens though when I decided I would like 3 children, boy, girl, boy - I have no idea why I came to that decision.

Now as a 33 year old with a beautiful baby boy, I guess I still would like the same as I did when I was young. We are hoping for a 2.5 year age gap still, though as has been pointed out you can only control when you start TTC, not when you actually do conceive so that is out of our hands. As for the sex, while I would like a girl to experience having a child of both sexes, DH and I really think we will have 2 sons and we will be equally delighted if that is the case.

[~R~]

I always envisaged myself with 2 girls, about 2 years apart. I have 2 girls, 3 years apart and I am perfectly happy with what we have

[Magnolia]

but if I have two of the same I'd rather have two boys than two girls.

Same here.

[KiJo]

We've always wanted kids, and always said that we would like at least 3. We are both from a family with 2 kids, girl first & then boy, both spaced out with about 2 years between. It was great growing up with a younger brother, but I would have also loved to have experienced a sisterly bond. I think DH would have loved a brother. As time draws nearer, and money gets tighter, I'm leaning towards only wanting 2. I think anymore would be too expensive! haha

In an ideal world, where you could pick babies from a cabbage patch and money was no issue I would have 4 kids, 2 of each. Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl. That way I get a chance to raise sons & daughters & my children get sisters & brothers! haha! Bear in mind, I havnt even had ONE yet, so this is obviously all just in my head