The Duggars, who live in Arkansas, are about to expand their family yet again.
Michelle is just 2 months off from delivering her 17th baby in 19 years
The whole family is excited about the arrival of the baby girl they will name Jennifer Danielle, keeping with the family tradition of giving the child a name that begins with J.
Jennifer Danielle is due July 27.
Duggar, 40, said she was doing fine with her latest pregnancy. Although she has gotten older since she had her first child at age 21, she said, she still has plenty of energy and only minor aches and pains.
“With each baby, God’s given me the grace and the energy to keep going, and they really keep you going,” she said. “I feel like a 20-year-old kid, but I’m realizing my body isn’t that 20-year-old. I don’t get up and play the games as hard as I used to, and I try to be a little more careful.”
Duggar said she and husband Jim Bob, a former state representative and U.S. senate candidate, view each phase of their children’s lives as an adventure.
“I’ve never been a mom of a 19-year-old young man and a 17-year-old young man and woman, so every phase of parenting is an exciting adventure” Duggar said.
The Duggars home school their children at their 7,000-square foot home in Tontitown. The couple’s oldest child, Joshua, is 19, and their youngest, Johanna Faith, is 19 months. Their children include two sets of twins.
Because the couple sees each child as a blessing from God, Michelle Duggar said they will, as long as she is able, accept each child they are given.
“Really, our heart is we would love to receive whatever gifts or blessings the Lord wants to give us,” she said. “But I love the baby stage and I can’t imagine life without having a toddler in the house.”
Two of the Duggar children, Janna, 17, and Jill, 15, attended Johanna’s birth at St. Mary’s hospital in Rogers in 2005. Duggar said the two girls, who both have an interest in becoming midwives or nurses, may attend Jennifer’s birth as well.
And though she has 16 children, Duggar said that each child is so different there are times when she feels like she knows nothing about parenting.
“Here I am a mama with her 17th child on the way, and so many people think ‘Oh you’ve got it all figured out,”‘ Duggar said. “I am still learning. Just when I think I’ve got something figured out I try it on the next one and it doesn’t work.”
The Duggars’ other children are John David, 17; Jessa, 14; Jinger, 13; Joseph, 12; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 10; Jeremiah, 8; Jedidiah, 8; Jason, 7, James, 5; Justin, 4; and Jackson Levi, 2.
This family is amazing. In order for things to go smoothly, each young child is paired up with an older sibling and they act like a team. Each team is responsible for a set of chores which helps keep the house in order.
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I have watched some programmes on tv about the family & I am amazed at how well the family work together, they all get on really well, well done Michelle & Jim Bob. Joeleen.
Michelle and Jim Bob are delusional idiots. They are irresponsible and short-changing their kids by having them raise those younger kids. I pray for menopause for Michelle and perhaps impotence for Jim Bob. They are a laughing stock and do no deserve admiration or TV specials.
You think for one minute that a Black or Hispanic family would be getting their own TV specials if they spouted out 17 kids? I think you know the answer to that. Simply having unprotected sex does not make for a role model in my book. The Duggar’s are using their “faith” as a soapbox to promote their lifestyle. God gives you a brain to use. Obviously, the Duggar’s aren’t using theirs.
I believe the opposite. This family has it all right. They have 16 – soon to be 17 – well behaved children who know the value of family.
These parents are very involved in their children’s education and development. Michelle homeschools all of her children. The all play the piano and violin.
I believe that they were chosen for the special because their family is so unique and well organized.
If a family of another race had acheived what this family has than maybe they would be profiled as well.
It’s okay for older children to mentor their younger brothers and sisters. It gives everyone a bit of responsibility.
I would rather have this family on tv than those ridiculous ultra spoiled teens that you see on MTV everyday. At least these kids treat their parents with respect, which is more than I can say for a lot of kids who come from families of 2 or 3 siblings.
I love the Duggars and wish I could be as organized and loving as they are,….I look forward to more TV shows about them and following their story
To the Duggar Family,
The Lord really has blessed you all with all these beautiful children. I can’t get over your going to have your 17th baby!! After this baby are you going to continue having more?
I’m really impressed your children are very well behaved and your home is very organized.
God Bless you all.
To growing your family,
I agree with you. The Duggar family has the right to have as many children as they want. They love, they have taught respect, support their family without the help of the Welfare system. They’re very well behaved, home schooled and very organized.
God Bless this family.
P.S. My niece Danielle just had her 9th baby about a month ago!!!! God Bless her and all of her children.
Jennifer Danielle was born today (8-2-07)
I think this family is awesome! In this day and age to see this many children being raised in one family that respect there parents and each other is amazing. It shows that not allowing television or internet these kids have had to use there brains and they are fine. They know the meaning of hard work and its pay off. I would love to have more kids in this world with that kind of work ethic and respect for others that is severely lacking in our society, my hats off to this family!
To each their own. As long as they are able to provide for their children then they should be able to have more. They are not irresponsible and obviously have things worked out. They seem like very loving parents which I cannot say for most people with a lot of children. In response to the comment “You think for one minute that a Black or Hispanic family would be getting their own TV specials if they spouted out 17 kids? I think you know the answer to that.” Please give me a break and stop playing the race card, its overrated! Your just jealous…
Sorry, but jealousy just isn’t in my vocabulary and certainly not regarding the Duggar’s. It isn’t a “race” card, it is a FACT. The Duggar’s are selfish and stupid to simply keep breeding because “God” isn’t stopping them. God isn’t keeping Michelle pregnant. Jim Bob is and he is falling in line with the Quiverfull movement’s plan to keep women barefoot and pregnant. I have a lot more to say about that ridiculous group, but I’ll stop with that.
But, let’s call a spade a spade here…if this were a Black or Hispanic family, you know good and well that they would not be the poster family for the “Christian” lifestyle. The thing is I’d feel the same way about the excess in kids which they cannot take care of without giving that responsibility to their older kids. It’s actually abuse in many ways. Teenagers should not be responsible for their siblings the way Jim Bob and Michelle are requiring them to be. I hope some of them get a clue and leave the family compound soon.
Its a TLC family channel and….. if you watch baby story there are all kinds of races. I guarantee you that those older kids will be outstanding citizens when the time comes.
I`am a Big fan of the Duggar family, Because Both of these Parents are compleatly invoved with All of their 17 childrens lifes, Michelle Home schools All of thier Kids, Jim bob supports his family by WORKING and not using any kind of welfare, and In just about Every family that is well grounded the Older Children help out with the younger, there is Nothing wrong with that, and If Paula watched the Duggar`s show she would see how these Children Treat their Parents, their Sidlings and Other people with respect, and Kindness and as for the 19th kids I say TO EACH THIER OWN, I dont want to be told how many children I can have IF I`am supportting and Loving them, If you want that Move to China, as for the Race I would watch Know matter what color they are, I just dont understand where Paula is coming from, and wonder if she is a friendly person, if she has any her kids do they rerespect her? it makes you wonder when someone has a view like hers, GOD BLESS The Duggar Family, I will be watching your Show along with every else who has an intrest in Good Family values.
Amen Pal!!!
I can not go more than a week without seeing at least 1 misbehaved kid running wild.So many parents now a days seem to not give their kids the attention needed.What bugs me more is that a lot of them do not discipline their children.Friggin’ welfare moms..friggin’ rugrats.Let me step down from my soap box.
To the Duggars I say,well done!
As long as they can provide for their children,than fine by me.I wish all familes had as much love(not as many kids)as the Duggars do.
I couldn’t agree with Paula more!!! There is NO need for 17 children. Adopt, for Pete’s sake. Population control is a big deal these days – and these people are not doing their part. To passively sit there and say the “God wants me to have these children” is an insult to Him and the FREE WILL that He has bestowed upon us. He gave us ‘free will’ expects us the think about the decisions that we make. Michelle is CLEARLY aware of her body and has the God-give human ability to say “Not tonite, honey. WE’re in the danger zone.” But both have chosen to be ignorant of that. Michelle, this is a sick and twisted attention getting gimic!!
And have they thought about the possible emotional issues these kids may suffer? How can these parents possibly think that they can appropriately divide their time, love, devotion, care, nuturing equally among the 17 kids? I guess the answer is that they can’t – that’s why the older kids are forced to be parents sooner than they probably wanted to and have to raise a younger sibling. We mothers know how much time a newborn requires – eating every 2-3 hours, sleepless nites, taking a nap or 2 with the newborn just to catch your bearings…. So, with that in mind, how much time is she able to devote to the 2 year old, let alone the rest of the line-up….
I really could go on and on…….
I praise anyone who can emotionally and physically raise 17 well respected children. If our world were filled with people like that, we would not have such hatred. God Bless you all.
I watch the Duggars and always wondered where do they get the money to build a house like the one they have with all of the beautiful stuff, and have the things they have, violins, harps, grand baby piano, etc. I am sure that Jim does not make that kind of money to support a family his size and having a stay-home wife. I agree, the children are all very well behaved and they are doing a great job, but just wondered about where the money comes from.
Wow! There are so many issues here!! Everybody raises great points. It’s wonderful that the parents have raised such well-respected and well-behaved kids. But, exactly how much exposure have they really had to the real world – peer-pressure, temptation, heart-aches, competition, success, etc by being home schooled? …and by having to raise a younger sibling – that’s not too realistic. It’s great that they have a home – musical instruments, clothes, food, house, healthcare, but I wonder if my tax dollars are paying for these things? Who can possibly support 17 kids on one income, besides Bill Gates? It’s wonderful to have such well-behaved and nice kids be present in this world. But, do we need 17 of them from one family? I think we can all admit that that is a little excessive. Didn’t God say everything in moderation? Would this be considered ‘gluttony?’ This family has it’s wonderful elements and it also has some profound issues. I really pray that these parents are doing everything in the best interest of the children rather than fulfulling their ya-ya’s, needs, desires, issues with their decisions to bring this many people into this small world.
The Duggars allegedly don’t accept public assistance in any form. I do sometimes question about HOW, exactly they can afford the home they live in. But, when I consider that they don’t have to pay for child care, buy in bulk, and Michele makes all the girls’ clothes, and they built their home themselves, the cost goes down (but, not low enough to make me stop wondering! LOL). And, to Paula, I wonder why you’re so quick to call them “idiots”. That’s harsh. It’s THEIR decision to make all the babies they want. If they’re not taking public assistance and can provide for all of those children, then who are we to tell them that what they’re doing is bad? Amy, if you think 17 babies is a bad thing, then don’t have 17 babies… But, if a woman CHOOSES to be barefoot and pregnant for 10 of her 40 years, who the heck are any of us to tell her that she’s a bad person, if that’s what she WANTS to do, and it obviously is… I’ve seen parents with FAR less children give FAR less time than the Duggars. And the older children aren’t RAISING the younger ones. It’s just a buddy system, which is quite common, even in smaller families. The bottom line is, why does anyone care? If the Discovery Channel would pay me good money to do a show about ME, I’d do it in a heartbeat, and then someone on another blog would say that I’m fat, or ugly, or whatever comes to their mind. The Duggars WANT this life, they Glod Bless America, they are entitled to it. I suppose Paula, then, that you are entitled to call them idiots and rant about the Quiverful movement. But, Michele is a human. She could LEAVE if she wanted to. Also, the oldest son is now 19, and HE could leave if he wanted to, and that he hasn’t should tell us something.
**Correction**
I guess this is what I get for not spell checking! LOL
I meant to say that “IF the Duggars want this life, THEN Glod Bless America, they are entitled to it”
Also, I in NO way intend to have 17 children, because I, personally, don’t want that many… No one can be angry at me for that choice any more than any one can be angry at Michele for deciding to have 17.
To each his own.
I think this is disgusting. There are so many needy orphans in the world…why keep giving birth? If they were truly good Christians, then you think that adoption would be part of their plan to grow their family. I can’t help but think that ego is somehow involved!
However, I will say that their kids seem well behaved and the place runs like a well-oiled cog…but, really, ADOPT!!
As a female african-american I’m proud of them and I too plan on having a quiverful just like the Duggars. it is because of the duggars I have chosen to have quiverful when I get of marring age GOD bless them and thier children. I would like 13 biological and one adopted child (fourteen in all) which I would like to name Theodore after the president Theodore Roosevolt. GOD BLESS
xoxoxoxo,
Adlyn
I just love the Duggar Family. I do Genealogy and I had always wondered why people way back yonder had big families. Well, I found out that the children helped in the fields and married young and multiplied to also get them to help in the fields and do other stuff.
But, now days we don’t have all that. We’re more laid back and relaxed these days. But, some people like big families and some don’t.
Before my husband and I got married, we agreed on just two children. We had a girl and a boy. Yes, they were God’s gifts to us. But, it was hard and expensive. We loved them dearly though. I just hate we couldn’t give them everything they wanted.
I guess that’s why I don’t understand these days with everything being so expensive how they can provide for all the children.
Anyway, May God Bless the Duggar family. They are good people.
^To the above post.
Is Paula experiencing multiple personality disorder?
does anyone know how these ppl support themsleves financially? im really curious as the dad must be the only one making money, what does he do!!!! why do they never bring it up on the show?
Amen for the Duggars. God opens and closes the womb. If you don’t believe that then dig out your Bible and do a Bible study on it. If the Duggars choose to let God be in control of the womb then that is the choice they make. Not all of us make that choice in life. God provides. That is how Jim Bob provides for his family. God gives him the wisdom to be financially capable of providing. It can be done whether some out there truly want to believe it or not.
As for having too many children and putting a strain on society…wrong. Look at the birth rates across the world. Countries are on the verge of collapse because birth rates are too low and the aging population will be have enough younger population to keep the economy productive. Do so research on that. America is one of those that doe have a fairly low birth rate.
Finally. Look how well-behaved and respectful those children are. I’ve seen a lot of children in out of 2 child homes that receive less attention and are less respectful than their 17. There is nothing wrong with the older kids helping raise the younger. So they have responsibility and don’t sit around playing video games all of their free time. Yeah. They will not be emotionally scarred for helping out younger siblings. Sorry…it won’t happen. I don’t see Michelle giving all the child raising responsibilities to the older children. She is still the mother and must be the mother for that family to function.
God Bless the Duggars.