And judging by the number of us there are, I'd say we're enthusiastic in celebrating the Miracle Of Sexual Congress, as well. 
Large Families in New England stem from 3 sources.
First, the large number of French Catholics in the area, influenced by French military history, followed the Church doctrine of "if we can't out fight them we will out number them.
Secondly, the farms up here did not generate the wealth of Southern plantations, but they were just as labor intensive.
Slaves were expensive, kids were free, and easily replaced.
Third, You need to do something to pass the long cold winters and stamp collecting had not been invented yet.