I am middle child of 3 & I have never quite understood this middle child syndrome? I have 2 sister & we are all only 5.5 yrs appart... I am about 17 months younger than my older sister & my younger sister is 3 yrs younger...
We were all raised the same, I have always been a tomboy & closest I guess to Dad, we used to do lot's of boy stuff on weekends, not coz he wanted me too, but simply because I wanted to do the tomboy things...
My Mum is one of 11 & Dad is oldest brother of 3...
I have just recently talked DH into going for #3 later this year...
We are similar to Bathsheba in that DD#1 is 7yrs old, Indah is 5 months, so Maddy was an only child for a long time & has her own interests, friends, cool girly stuff that she does & now Indah & #3 will be close in age & so will have their own family dynamics to sort out...

Personally I think no matter how many you decide to have or not have someone will have a negative opinion... I would also go for 6-8, but I know I am too old for that & we dont have finances to allow it...

I really want 3 & although DH isnt thrilled, I dont want to regret not having another 1 in the future...
We are looking at a bigger car, but not too big, the youngest ones will have to share as we have a 3 bedroom house, but I grew up in a 3 bedroom family & shared with oldest sister & then youngest sister, I never minded, we had fights, we were best mates, it doesnt matter how many there are it just happens...
We may move in a few years to a bigger house, but if not I am sure we will cope, after all, in my Husbands country they all live in the one room... We will staill have it much easier, better than alot of other people & I feel we have more than enough love to shower them with & make them feel happy, loved & confident...

I cant wait to have our #3!!!