Hi G.,
For the past 7 years I have worked as an Executive Recruiter, recruiting for positions with Cities and Counties all over the Western U.S. Prior to that, I worked for an employment agency that placed temp and permanent employees in private sector positions. I will tell you that personally, I respected female candidates who were coming back into the workforce after having been a stay at home mom (no matter the length of time) and not once did I feel that this was a hinderance to their ability to perform a job function in their field of expertise. I worked my tail off to help them get back into the job market and be a viable candidate. Having said that, not everyone shares this view, particulary male hiring managers. It takes a mother to understand why someone would choose to stay home and foresake her career for any period of time. On the flip side, some female hiring managers might get jealous that you were able to stay home and they were not, leading to discrimination.
When I got pregnant I was faced with the same feelings that you have. Do I leave a very successful career with one of the most respected firms out there to stay home with my baby? Will I be able to come back in three or so years and not only be able to "pick up where I left off" but would I still perform at the level I was performing at previously? The day my daughter was born was the day that answer became clear. WHO CARES if I can re-enter the job market easily!!! Being a stay at home mom instantly became the most important job that I could ever have. Please, do not question whether you have made the right decision. You have. If you can afford to stay home, then do it. God bless working mothers but seriously, there is nothing in a child's life that can replace being raised by their mother for as long as possible.
Many of my dear friends have sacrificed everything to be a stay at home mom and they never have regretted their decisions. Although it did take them a little longer than planned to re-enter the workforce, they were able to do it. The right position is out there. Plus, you don't want to work for a company that does not respect and support your decision to stay at home for the length of time that you did.
Good Luck to you in your future endevours. Trust that you will be successful in the job search when the time comes. But for now, enjoy the success of raising your children yourself!