This is how we know we’re done having kids. And boy, this has been a hard post to write. Getting my thoughts somewhat organized and down on paper has been months in the making—since before baby girl was even born. Now that baby girl is almost five months old I thought it was about time to share some of the reasons we know we’re done having kids.

first of all…

Before I get into how I know we’re done having kids I want to start this post by apologizing if it comes off as insensitive. I know not every couple out there has the “luxury” of being able to decide when they’re done having kids. I in no way mean any of this flippantly.

from the beginning we both agreed–

Mike and I have never had a specific number of kids in mind. Somehow we both agreed that, (a) we’d take each kid one at a time but we wanted at least two if we were blessed to have them; and (b) we would be done by the time I was 35. By the way,  did you know that a pregnancy over the age of 35 is considered a geriatric pregnancy?! Mike didn’t believe me when I told him that. Anyway, I turned 35 this August so I guess you could say my time was up.

Let me be completely transparent–this last pregnancy was hard. That being said, it was still much easier than some people’s. However, each pregnancy has gotten harder on me emotionally and physically. I hate to admit that my age (because 35 IS NOT old!) played a factor, but it did. The fact that I had so many little ones to chase after throughout my pregnancy added to the challenge. And I think the fact that I never had an epidural or a major delivery complication helped me recover quickly, but it was still a struggle to heal and care for a family of eight.

| Read my birth story for baby #6 here! |

that “done having kids” feeling

After we’d had our fourth baby we started discussing if we wanted to have more. We discussed it, we fasted over it, we prayed about it. A lot. Finally, one day after visiting the temple we came to a decision. I told Mike that during our visit that we had made hoping to receive inspiration, I had. In fact, I didn’t feel like we were supposed to have one other kid. I actually felt strongly we were supposed to have two more children. I’m so thankful that my husband trusted the revelation I received for our family.

I had heard so many of my friends talk about a feeling they’d had–“I just felt like we were done having kids”; “Our family felt complete.” I had often wondered if I would ever feel that way. But I think I finally do. Don’t get me wrong, I love babies. And our life is already so chaotic, I doubt adding another little bundle of joy would really add to the crazy that much, haha. But I feel good about our not-so-little family of eight. We have our perfect little rainbow–six babies on earth and one in heaven. Seven beautiful spirits to call our own.

| Check out our baby announcement on Instagram here! |

I want to thank Shelby Mousley Photography for capturing these images. She takes many of our family photos and always does a phenomenal job! I told her my idea for this shoot and somehow she made it even better. Our family highly recommends her.

Have you experienced that “we’re done” feeling? How did you know you were done having kids?