May 28 2008
Baby #18 On The Way For Duggar Family
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, along with all 17 of their children, appeared on the Today Show two days before Mother’s Day. The Duggar children had big Mother’s Day surprises for their mom, including a ring that Michelle fell in love with at a jewelry shop, a pearl necklace and matching earrings, an outfit designed for the “in-between” stages of pregnancy and even a new coffeemaker. They also created a giant card made from cardboard displaying each of their handprints in paint, along with a personal message from each child.
Michelle revealed a big Mother’s Day surprise to her children, as well. The mom-of-17 announced she was expecting yet another new addition to the Duggar clan! “We’re expecting!”, she told her extra-large family and Today Show co-host Meredith Vieira. “Number 18!” Michelle went on to say, “They didn’t know. My girls watch the calendar like a hawk. We just found out on Monday night.” Jim Bob said, “They thought they’d give their mom a surprise, but she gave them a surprise!” He continued, “On Monday night she brought one of the [pregnancy] testers in,” adding, “I wanted to bring it with me [to the show], but she wouldn’t let me.”
Michelle, 41, is currently 8 weeks along in her pregnancy. The 18th sibling is due to arrive around New Year’s Day 2009. “We’ve had three in January, three in December. Those two months are a busy time for us,” joked the exceptionally busy expectant mom. With an estimated 200 loads of laundry done each month in this household, there can’t possibly be a month that’s not chaotic!
The couple married in 1984 when Jim Bob was 19 and Michelle was 17, but held off on starting a family for four years. Their first son, Joshua, was born in 1988 and then Michelle went back on birth control pills. Despite that, she conceived again, but suffered a miscarriage. They attributed the miscarriage to the use of the pill and chose to welcome as many children as God would bless them with after that. Soon, Michelle was expecting the first of their two sets of twins! When added all together, Michelle has been pregnant for more than 135 months of her life, with an average of 18 months between each delivery. Out of all 15 pregnancies, 13 were natural deliveries, with only 2 C-sections.
The quickly-growing Arkansas family lives in a 7,000 SF home, which was built “debt free” as a “family project”, according to their website: http://www.duggarfamily.com. The couple are both licensed real estate agents and from 1999 to 2003 Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives as a state legislator. He was also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002.
The Duggar family became well-known for their five series of documentaries on TLC and Discovery Health including, “14 Children and Pregnant Again!”, “16 Children and Moving In!”, “Raising 16 Children!” and “On The Road With 16 Children!” Last September, “The Duggar’s Big Family Album” premiered on Discovery Health, which recapped the last few years of their lives up to the birth of their youngest child in August, Jennifer Danielle.
The couple’s 17 children includes 10 boys and 7 girls, with two sets of twins in the mix. The oldest is Joshua (20) and the youngest is Jennifer (9 months). In between Joshua and Baby Jennifer are: twins Jana and John-David (18), Jill (16), Jessa (15), Jinger (14), Joseph (13), Josiah (11), Joy-Anna (10), twins Jeremiah and Jedidiah (9), Jason (7), James (6), Justin (5), Jackson (3) and Johannah (2). The new Baby Duggar, whether a boy or a girl, will have a name that starts with the letter “J” and will be home-schooled just as his or her siblings.
Congratulations to the Duggar family on their latest pregnancy announcement!
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The Duggars are an inspiration for all who read about them. They show us what is the true meaning of life: CHILDREN. At the end of your life, what will be your biggest achievement? Your children. That you have as many as possible is only very good.
G.od bless the Duggar family. A true inspiration for all.
GOOD LUCK, YOU ARE A GREAT FAMILY AND AN INSPIRATION TO ALL. MAY YOU ALWAYS FIND LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HEALTH
I WATCH YOUR SHOW ALL THE TIME, AND I THINK IT’S GREAT
HOW THEY ALL PULL TOGETHER AND DO THINGS,AND IT’S AMAZEING, THAT SHE CAN STAY AT HOME AND TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEM, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT DAY CARE. I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE CAR INSURANCE BILL. ONCE AGAIN GOD BLESS ON THE NEXT J BABY . IF IT’S A GIRL NAME HER JANUARYOR IF A BOY JORDON
The Duggers are a nice family but I do not agree with their way of life, Their are too many family’s in this nation that cannot have kids. And to see them have eighteen just seems unfair to the people who have physical problems can’t have kids. I also don’t agree with the idea of courtship, because people change after physical relationships, and that could lead to a disagreement within the marriage.
I have heard many criticisms about the Duggars and their way of life. I started out that way; i criticized their antique/conservative ways and how outdated their views were. Then, I started looking around, first in my home and then in my neighborhood and in my country and I discovered that their ways although antiquated, are a good start for the type of children we as a nation are always claiming to try and raise. Since this ‘light bulb’ moment for me, i have changed my views of the Duggars and have now looked to them for inspiration.
I am currently having difficulty conceiving and although some people feel that it is not fair that Michelle has 18 kids when people can’t have one, I feel that they were blessed with these children and those who have not should put their jealousy aside and look outside the box; there are also a lot of children out there with out good homes and maybe this is our true calling.
I’m with you Cindy. The Duggars are an excellent example. First, we live in a free country and it is a blessing to have as large of a family as you desire. Of course you should only do that if you can provide for them. They do and well. This beautiful family is debt free! How many familes do you know of that can say that? I simply don’t understand the complaints that I’ve heard about them. They are not imposing on anyone and I find them refreshing. Their cable show is now one of the favorites in my house.