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Tag: 19 kids and counting

  • Michelle Duggar Visits Fertility Doctor Hoping To Have 20th Child At 47

    Michelle Duggar and her husband Bob seem to think that having 19 children is not enough. In a preview of an upcoming episode of their reality show 19 Kids and Counting, the couple is seen visiting a fertility doctor and asking if it is safe and possible for Michelle, 47, to still bear a child.

    In the preview, Michelle said, “We are just going to check and see that I’m physically in good condition.” She said that they would love to have more children, but she just wants to make sure that she is still capable of bearing a child.

    Michelle is consulting an expert, since their youngest child, Josie, was born 3 months premature. Josie, now 4 years old, is happy and healthy. 3 years ago, the Duggars were expecting their 20th child, but Michelle had a miscarriage that was discovered when she had an ultrasound.

    The couple went to Little Rock, Arkansas to visit Dr. Paul Wendel whose specialty is in high-risk pregnancies. Since Michelle is already 47 years old, there is a higher risk of her child having complications or birth defects, Dr. Wendel said. However, he also stated that there are rare cases of women bearing children in their late 40’s up to 50 years old. The doctor also said that their chance of conceiving is less than 5%.

    The Duggars do not believe in birth control and they said that the number of children they have is “up to God.” They have 19 children, and they also have grandchildren.

    When Michelle and Bob got married, they thought that they would only have two or three children. They now have 10 boys, and 9 girls, and all their children have names starting with the letter “J.”

    19 Kids and Counting is now on its eighth season. The episode airs Tuesday on TLC.

    The Duggar’s Story

    Images via Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar Facebook,(1), (2)

  • Jill Duggar Meets Her Fiance In Nepal

    Jill Duggar Meets Her Fiance In Nepal

    Jill Duggar announced her engagement to her boyfriend Derick Dillard last month, and during Tuesday night’s episode of 19 Kids and Counting, we got to see them meet in person for the first time.

    Jim Bob Duggar, Jill’s father, first introduced Jill and Derick last year through email. “My father built a friendship with Derick before I did and that added a whole level of security,” Jill explained.

    Jill and Derick immediately hit it off and started talking nearly every day through Skype and texting. “We talked a lot and started texting and emailing,” she said. “And we Skyped a lot. I got to know some of his friends and family. And then, we met in person months later. I was in love with someone I had never met in person.”

    Because Derick was living in Nepal, doing missionary work, Jill made the decision to fly 36 hours to meet him.

    Upon arriving in Nepal, Jill was greeted by Derick with a bouquet of flowers and a side hug. He later took Jill and Jim Bob sight seeing, and showed them some of his favorite places. “I traveled over 36 hours to meet him and we had a film crew filming and jet lag so it is a different dynamic than most people have,” she said. “But it was really special. We enjoyed the first several days getting to spend time together and getting to see things together.”

    The Duggar family has strict boundaries when it comes to courting. In their new book Growing Up Duggar, the eldest daughters of Michelle and Jim Bob, explained that they do not believe in kissing or holding hands until marriage, and find a “side hug” an appropriate form of physical contact.

    Image via Twitter

  • Jill Duggar Meets Fiancé, Derick Dillard, For the First Time on ’19 Kids and Counting’

    Jill Duggar Meets Fiancé, Derick Dillard, For the First Time on ’19 Kids and Counting’

    Jill Duggar is floating on cloud nine these days! Last month, the 19 Kids and Counting star announced her engagement to her fiancé, Derick Dillard.

    The 22-year-old reality TV starlet recently met Dillard, 25, in person for the first time in Nepal, where he spent the later part of 2013 doing missionary. Since she isn’t allowed to be alone with Dillard until they are officially married her father, Jim Bob, accompanied her on the trip.

    Of course, the cameras captured the memorable moment for the world to see on television. However, nothing compares to hearing the details of the heart-warming experience from the lady in love.

    During a recent interview with People magazine, Jill gushed about the evolution of her relationship with Dillard and the interactions that led up to their engagement. She explained that they were introduced via email, and that they had the chance to get to know one another via Skype.

    We talked a lot and started texting and emailing,” Jill explained. “And we Skyped a lot. I got to know some of his friends and family. And then, we met in person months later. I was in love with someone I had never met in person.”

    http://youtu.be/W3jd7T2-j18

    She also revealed that she’d even met Dillard‘s mother before she had the opportunity to meet him. “I was nervous at our first meeting because I already knew how special she was to him,” says Dillard’s mom, Cathy. “I thought I could be talking to my future daughter-in-law. We hit it off and she was so easy to talk to. We had a great time.”

    She even dished about the trip the to Nepal and what it was like to finally spend time with Dillard face-to-face.

    “I traveled over 36 hours to meet him and we had a film crew filming and jet lag so it is a different dynamic than most people have,” Jill said. “He was so sweet! He greeted me with flowers and yeah, it was crazy because I had been preparing for this moment,” she gushed. “Everything just went really smoothly. [A] perfect moment. But it was really special. We enjoyed the first several days getting to spend time together and getting to see things together.”

    The episode that chronicled the happy couple’s first meeting aired Tuesday, May 6 on TLC.

    Image via 19 Kids and Counting, Facebook

  • Jill Duggar Leaving The Nest, Michelle Ready For Another Baby

    Jill Duggar Leaving The Nest, Michelle Ready For Another Baby

    Jill Duggar, one of the stars of the hit TLC reality show 19 Kids And Counting, made headlines this week with her engagement to Derick Dillard, whom she only just met face-to-face recently; the couple became acquainted through Jill’s dad, Jim Bob, after he and Dillard met on a missionary trip in Nepal.

    “I was impressed with him as I got to know him over the years,” Jim Bob said. “He sounded like an amazing young man. I felt like from the beginning they had similar personalities and goals. I thought they would hit it off.”

    The couple have been in a “courtship” for several months, speaking via Skype and texting one another, and when Jill made the trip to Nepal to meet Derick this week, the two confirmed what they’d already known; they want to be together forever. Now, after their engagement has been made official, Duggar matriarch Michelle says she would gladly welcome baby number 20.

    “I realize that I don’t have those tiny little babies in my home anymore. We would welcome another baby if God saw fit to give us another one,” she said.

    The youngest Duggar child, Josie, was born in 2009 and had serious health issues as an infant. She has since become a strong and healthy little girl, but the stress took a toll on the family at the time. Now, Michelle says she’s enjoying time with her grandchildren but has made it clear that she would love to have one more little one of her own.

    As for Jill, she says she fell in love with Derick very quickly after getting to know him.

    “We got to know each other in the first few months pretty quickly. I was in love with someone I had never met in person, but we really knew each other well,” she said.

    The couple’s first meeting was captured on camera for the reality show, and Jill’s excited first moments left fans gushing on Twitter about the episode.

    “I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, this could very well be my future husband. This could be the one!” Jill said. She later recounted the meeting, saying Derick brought her a gift.

    “He was so sweet! He greeted me with flowers and yeah, it was crazy because I had been preparing for this moment. Everything just went really smoothly. [A] perfect moment.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Jill Duggar Sets A Wedding Date For June

    Jill Duggar Sets A Wedding Date For June

    Just a few short weeks after announcing their engagement, Jill Duggar and her fiancé Derick Dillard have set a wedding date.

    According to their wedding website, the couple will tie the knot on June 21, 2014. Also, on their website, Derick detailed how he met the love of his life.

    “The answer to my prayer came in August 2013, just before I left Nepal for a two week trip to Japan,” he wrote. “During a conversation with Jim Bob, he mentioned how he thought Jill and I might get along well, having similar personalities and direction in life. He gave me Jill’s phone number and we began texting, then emailing, then skyping/ talking on the phone. Over the next few months we became very grateful for modern technology as we continued to get to know each other better. Most of our conversations were centered around our values and life goals.”

    “At the end of November, Jill and her dad got to come to Nepal for a couple weeks,” he continued. “I had no idea what to expect, but I was excited and prayed that God would give clear direction during this time. By the end of the trip I felt the Lord directing me to ask Jill to officially begin a courtship relationship. She agreed and we continued getting to know one another. It would still be two months before I completed my two year term and would move back home to Arkansas. Upon my arrival home (January 2014), I was met by the Duggar clan; this was my first time to meet Jill’s family in person. Over the next few months, I enjoyed spending time getting to know Jill and her family better.”

    Jill revealed to ABC News that the will most likely have a large wedding. “I think it’ll probably be a Duggar-sized wedding with lots of friends and lots of family, and everything centered on God,” Jill said. “We’re looking forward to it!”

    When asked if they are planning on having children, Jill explained that she would follow in her parents footsteps and have as many children as God will give them. “Both of us want as many kids as God will give us,” she said, “and we’ve talked about adoption.” She added, “My parents have kept popping them out so we’ll see how [our] fertility is!”

    Images via theknot.com

  • Duggar Family Shares Standards For Courting

    Jill Duggar recently announced that she was engaged to her beau Derick Dillard. Their wedding date has been set for this summer, and Jill explains that they will share their first kiss then.

    The Duggar family has been very open about their standards for courting on their television show 19 Kids and Counting. They do not believe in holding hands or kissing before marriage. All dates are chaperoned, and the only physical contact made is an occasional side hug.

    So, why the strict rules? Jill explained to ABC News that they want to keep their relationships more about getting to know each other, rather than the physical attraction. “We’re just really trying to keep our relationship focused not on the physical but really just more on communication and continuing to learn more about each other,” Jill said. “We’re saving our first kiss and things beyond that for our wedding.”

    Michelle Duggar, the mother of the family, admitted that she and her husband Jim Bob did not wait until marriage for their first kiss, and now she wishes that they had. “Michelle and I are really grateful that they have chosen to set high standards,” Jim Bob said.

    Jim Bob also revealed that he and Michelle let their daughters set their own standards for courting. They were fortunate enough that their daughters share the same beliefs as their parents.

    “What’s so neat is Jessa and Ben and Jill and Derick have set their own courtship standards and now engagement standards, and they’ve said they want to bring them out in the open and be accountable,” Michelle explained. “I think it’s good for couples out there, young, old, whatever, you can set those standards and really focus on getting to know each other and wait for the physical aspect.”

    Michelle and Jim Bob confirmed that they did give Jill permission to hold Derick’s hand after they became engaged.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Jessa Duggar in Courtship With Young Man

    Jessa Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting fame has entered into a courtship with a young man, as has her sister Jill Duggar. Jessa has been involved with Ben Seewald for a while now. Sister Jill has just begun a courtship with Derick Dillard, a young man who worked alongside dad Jim Bob Duggar on a mission project in Nepal.

    Jill and Derick were introduced online and essentially got to know each other that way. Once the two met in person they felt they had already fostered a close relationship with one another.

    “We got to know each other in the first few months pretty quickly. I was in love with someone I had never met in person, but we really knew each other well,” she said during a recent interview. ”I was really impressed with his character and I was surprised how much we have the same vision and life goals.”

    Jessa Duggar and her courtship with Ben Seewald was the highlight of the first episode in the new season of 19 Kids and Counting on Tuesday. Fans are expecting that next season–or perhaps even later in this season–that there might be a similar episode featuring Jill and Derick.

    The Duggar family has an interesting take on relationships between their children and prospective courting partners. They don’t call the ages old ritual ‘dating’ because they believe that insinuates a very lax coming together of two young people. They prefer ‘courtship’ instead, as they believe that is the conscious seeking of a life partner–one with similar religious beliefs and life goals.

    Jessa Duggar and her sisters don’t kiss their boyfriends or hold hands with them. Their parents have raised them to believe that that sort of intimacy is best preserved for marriage. Instead they are allowed to hug their boyfriends in greeting them or saying goodbye, or when they are posing for a picture. There is always a chaperone present. Even when they go out for a meal or a cup of coffee they bring a couple of the younger siblings along so they are never alone together.

    Jessa and Jill Duggar, along with a couple of their sisters, often give talks throughout the year to groups of young women and girls about courtship and dating.

    Life is certainly unusual in the 19 Kids and Counting household–at least according to most of society’s standards, but before people poke fun they should look at the longevity of the relationship between Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, as well as the fact that their kids have stayed rather close to home even after they reach legal age and despite their family’s seemingly rigid rules.

    What do you think of the notion of courtship versus dating?

    Image via YouTube

  • Jessa Duggar Talks Courtship on Show and In Book

    Fans of 19 Kids and Counting were let into the world of courting last night, on the TLC show’s season premiere.

    Jessa, the Duggar’s third-oldest daughter, began courting 18-year-old Ben Seewald last year, and the touching and kind of awkward proposal of sorts was featured on Tuesday’s show.

    Just like when he wanted to get to know Jessa better, Seewald had to first consult with her parents before he was able to ask if Jessa could enter a courtship with him. Mr. and Mrs. Duggar agreed, then allowed Seewald to ask her. They then made the formal announcement in front of the whole Duggar gang.

    The episode also aired the new couple going on a date with Seewald’s parents. Mom and pops asked Jessa a few questions, and the no nonsense 21-year-old answered them with confidence, although later she did admit she was nervous.

    See some of the episode, here:

    Jessa’s older sister Jill recently announced she has entered a courtship with Derick Dillard. What is courtship you ask? The sisters address the subject in the new book Growing Up Duggar.

    The fundamental Christians believe dating is simply about having fun, which can cause heartache and giving pieces of yourself to others that you can’t take back. During courtship, kissing or even holding hands is strictly forbidden, however, side hugs are permitted.

    The girls advise against dating and engaging in physical relationships for reasons that actually make a lot of sense.

    “The girl may so yearn to feel valued and accepted by a male that she gives in to the boy’s desires. But too often the boy’s ‘love’ for her turns out to be fleeting, and the girl is left cast off and degraded. From there, things can easily spiral downward as the girl’s yearning to feel valued intensifies and she seeks acceptance from the next boy who comes along. We hear from a lot of girls in this painful situation,” they write in their book.

    Say what you will about the Duggars, but it’s doubtful any of these “celebrities” will end up in jail, addicted to drugs, or starring in any scandalous sex tapes, which is a lot more than you can say for most people who are so-called role models for today’s younger generation.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jill Duggar Is Courting: ‘He’s A Great Guy’

    Jill Duggar Is Courting: ‘He’s A Great Guy’

    It looks like Jim Bob Duggar is going to have his hands full as another one of his daughters has started courting.

    According to PEOPLE, Jill Duggar, 22, has started a courtship with Derick Dillard, 25, of Rogers, Arkansas. Her relationship comes not long after her younger sister Jessa, 20, revealed that she was courting Ben Seewald, 18.

    Jill, whose family stars in TLC’s original series 19 Kids and Counting, says that she was really impressed with Derick and how they shared the same goals for life. “I was really impressed with his character and I was surprised how much we have the same vision and life goals,” Jill said. “He’s a great guy.”

    Actually, Jim Bob probably doesn’t have much to worry about since his daughters have firm beliefs in what courting entails. Jill and Jessa, along with two of their other sisters Jinger and Jana, recently wrote a book titled Growing up Duggar in which they explain what it means to court as opposed to dating. They revealed that they do not kiss or hold hands, and choose to save those intimate expressions for marriage. All of their dates are chaperoned and the only physical contact they share with their boyfriends is an occasional “side hug.”

    Derick also shares a strong faith, and met Jim Bob when he was doing missionary work in Nepal. “I had gotten an email from Derick a few years ago and gave him my phone number so he could share the work he was doing in Nepal,” Jim Bob said. “I was impressed with him as I got to know him over the years. He sounded like an amazing young man,” he continued. “I felt like from the beginning, they had similar personalities and goals. I thought they would hit it off.”

    Jill and Derick started exchanging text messages and having conversations on Skype. She admits that she fell in love quickly with someone that she had never met. “We got to know each other in the first few months pretty quickly,” Jill said. “I was in love with someone I had never met in person, but we really knew each other well.”

    Image via Duggarfamily.com

  • Jill Duggar is in Courting Relationship

    Jill Duggar of TLC’s reality show 19 Kids and Counting is being courted by Derick Dillard.

    “Courting” is the Duggar family’s version of dating. Instead of letting their children – who all have names that begin with the letter “J” – go on dates with many different people, the Duggar’s actually select one person with whom they think their child could get along well with. Once they get to know each other and feel they can marry that person, they begin courting and spending time together. Any interaction between the two is always chaperoned.

    The family believes this prevents their children from giving pieces of their hearts to other people with whom they do not plan to spend the rest of their lives with. The chaperones also stop any physical affection from taking place. Although “side hugs” are permitted, the devoutly Christian family believes that every romantic act – even kissing – should be avoided until marriage.

    Jill’s father Jim Bob met Dillard first while the 25-year-old was working as a missionary in Nepal. They became prayer partners and developed a friendly relationship.

    “I was impressed with him as I got to know him over the years,” said Mr. Duggar in an interview. “He sounded like an amazing young man. I felt like from the beginning they had similar personalities and goals. I thought they would hit it off.”

    Jill and Derick began texting and Skyping – all while being supervised by the Duggar parents – for quite some time and finally met in person in November.

    “We got to know each other in the first few months pretty quickly,” Jill stated. “I was in love with someone I had never met in person, but we really knew each other well.”

    See what Twitter had to say about the news, here:

    Jill is the second daughter of the Duggars to begin courting. Her younger sister Jessa began courting Ben Seewald last year. Josh Duggar, the oldest child of the bunch, married his wife Anna in 2008. The couple has three children together, all with names that start with the letter “M,” natch.

    Image via TLC

  • Jessa Duggar Could Start Courting Trend

    Jessa Duggar made waves with the announcement of her courtship last year with beau Ben Seewald, prompting most Americans to ask, “What’s courtship?”

    Now she has begun talking about what it’s really like, opening the eyes of a new generation to the time-tested process.

    Jessa and her sister explained on Good Morning America that courting is “a new season of life. It’s exciting. We call it dating with a purpose and not just frivolous, really considering the person as a potential life partner.”

    This is truly a new concept in this generation of casual hook-ups and marriage decline. However, with new teen celebrities making waves like Sadie Robertson, Kolby Koloff, and Jessa Duggar, perhaps the tide could be turned. Is this the beginning of a new conservative generation?

    Would today’s teens turn away from casual dating in favor of a more serious approach? Jessa’s sister Jill thinks courting is a better way to meet Mr. Right. She is encouraging young women to look deeper than looks or money to find their perfect match and not waste time on a relationship that could end with a broken heart and a lost sense of self.

    Her advice is to ask some vital questions when cosidering who to enter courtship with, like “Is he going to be a good father? Is he slow to anger?”.

    The girls and their parents set rules for courtship which almost completely omit any physical contact, according to Fox 411. “I think we’re saving like hand holding and that stuff more for engagement and we’re saving our first kiss for our wedding day,” Jessa explained.

    The trend toward a more wholesome life experience is absolutely encouraging as a mother, but can today’s tweens and teens ditch dating for an old-fashioned idea like courtship? Time will tell on this one!

    Image via YouTube

  • Jessa Duggar Reveals Dating Rules

    Jessa Duggar Reveals Dating Rules

    The Duggers are a very well-known, strict Christian family, who have had their lives documented on their hit TLC television show 19 Kids and Counting.

    We have seen each of the 19 children grow and develop personalities and lives of their own, and now the eldest Dugger daughters have opened up about growing up in such a large family in their new book Growing up Duggar.

    Jana, 24, Jill, 22, Jessa, 21, and Jinger, 20, reveal interesting facts about their personal lives and relationships, and give an inside look into the do’s and don’ts of dating in the Duggar house. The entire family made a stop by Good Morning America to discuss their new book and the new season of their show that is scheduled to premier on April 1.

    “Courtship is a new season of life. It’s exciting,” Jessa said. “We call it dating with a purpose and not just frivolous, really considering the person as a potential life partner.” Jill agreed with her sister, and gave her insight into what dating truly means. “We talk about what we’re looking for [in the book]. Not just, ‘Oh, he’s a cute guy.’ But the heart of the matter. Is he going to be a good father? Is he slow to anger? We have a list in [the book] that helps girls think deeper than just the surface.”

    Despite their beliefs, the girls are only human, and know that temptation is everywhere. “It’s easy to put yourself into physical and moral danger and give into those emotions or sensual thoughts that promise pleasant, but only temporary, fulfillment,” the girls wrote in their book. “By censoring our thoughts through the filter of God’s word, we will be able to recant any wrong thoughts or temptations that try to sneak in.”

    Jessa is the only one of the girls that is currently courting a man. She revealed six months ago that she was seeing Ben Seewald, a fellow member of her church. “They’re enjoying getting to know each other and are recommending sermons to one another,” Jim Bob Duggar, Jessa’s father, said. “Courting is getting to know each other in a group setting, both families spending time together and the couple setting goals together to determine if they are meant to marry. With dating, a couple will often pair off alone and that sometimes leads to a more physical relationship.”

    Image via Amazon.com

  • Michelle Duggar Admits She Suffered From Bulimia

    Michelle Duggar, 47, has documented her life on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting for years. On the show, she is portrayed as super mom, caring for 19 kids without ever having to raise her soft voice. She is always in good spirits, which is why you would never guess that someone like her would have some deep dark secrets of her own.

    Revealed in the new book Growing up Duggar, written by four of Michelle’s daughters, Jana, 24, Jill, 22, Jessa, 21, and Jinger, 20, was Michelle’s struggle with bulimia while she was in high school. When the girls discuss their mother, in the book, they refer to her as ‘Marie’.

    “On the outside, Marie had what everyone else wanted, but on the inside, she felt sad and empty,” the excerpts, obtained by PEOPLE, read. “She began to envy the girl who tried to control her weight through what turned out to be a destructive eating disorder. Not realizing how dangerous it was, Marie thought it might work for her, and soon her obsession to stay thin started controlling her life.”

    Michelle has kept this secret since she was a teenager, and explained to PEOPLE why she chose to tell the world now. “I have been open with my struggles with the kids before,” Michelle said. “We talk about how God has brought us out of different things along life’s way. When the girls were writing their book, they brought this up and I thought, if my sharing it is going to help another young lady, then I want to share it.”

    Michelle was very active as a teenager, and even competed in cheerleading in gymnastics. However, she explained that she managed to put on weight very easily. At the age of 14, Michelle began making herself throw up her meals, in order to maintain her weight. She hid her disorder from everyone, until she met her husband Jim Bob.

    “We were talking future together and I remember that I felt like I had to tell him everything, everything about myself,” she explained. “You can’t keep secrets from the man you want to share your life with. I shared this struggle with him and he said he would help me and help keep me accountable.”

    Michelle credits Jim Bob for her recovery. She explained that he helped her through her urges, and eventually she was able to stop. “He told me to call him anytime,” Michelle revealed. “I just know that I would be tempted and I would have the crazy thought that I wanted to throw up, not hold onto the calories. Thank God it didn’t go on longer than it did or I could have done horrible damage to my body.”

    Thankfully, Michelle no longer has to fight this battle. Now, she manages her weight using Weight Watchers and other safe methods.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Michelle Duggar: Most Fascinating Person In Arkansas

    Michelle Duggar is one of the most kind and soft spoken women that you would ever meet. How she maintains her composure is beyond me, considering she has 19 children running through her home.

    However, she, somehow, always makes it seem easy…being a wife, mother, and grandmother. “The fact that there’s 19 children that God has blessed us with is unique, very unique,” Michelle said.

    Recently, Michelle was given an award that she says she was honored to receive. Michelle was named the number five most fascinating person in Arkansas. When asked how she felt to be nominated for the award, she responded: “I would say very humbled and honored. I feel very grateful that anyone would say that or think that. I’m honored, very honored.”

    Michelle, her husband Jim Bob, and their 19 kids have starred in their own reality show for several years now. In each episode of TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, we, as viewers, get to witness the trials and tribulations that come with having such a large family. “We have enjoyed getting to open up our home and our life to share with those around the world,” Michelle said about their show.

    The Duggars choose not to hide their hardships from their viewers, but instead let them in to every aspect of their life. “To be real, would not be covering the pain and the hurt that we walked through in that regard,” Michelle explained. Their most recent tragedy involved the loss of their daughter, Jubilee. During a 19-week ultrasound, doctors made the discovery that the Duggar’s twentieth child had passed away.

    “With our sweet little Jubilee we know she is with The Lord and we will see her again someday,” she said. “As we share those experiences, our prayers is that others will be encouraged to turn their life to God.”

    Jubilee Shalom Duggar from WMtek Inc on Vimeo.

    Image via Duggarfamily.com

  • Duggar Family Trying For 20th Child

    Duggar Family Trying For 20th Child

    The Duggar family became famous through a one-hour special on TLC focused on their extra-large brood, which turned into their own weekly reality series, “19 Kids And Counting”. Through the years, fans have followed the Duggars as they built a new home to accommodate their large (and ever-growing) number, saw the eldest son marry and have three children of his own, and mourned as mom Michelle suffered a miscarriage in 2011. Now, the famous parents are looking to add on to their family…one way or another.

    “I would be so grateful if the Lord blessed us with another one. We’re trying at this point and we shall see if that is a possibility. If not, we are so thankful and grateful for the ones that God has given us so far. We are also definitely enjoying our grandbabies! They are so precious!” Michelle said, adding,”We’re praying about if the Lord would want us to adopt.”

    The family has seen their share of controversy through the years about their beliefs–which don’t include birth control–but say they genuinely love children and want to have as many as they can.

    “We have set up our home to be designed for taking care of children. We love children, and we really believe every child is a special gift from God,” Jim Bob Duggar said.

    The Duggars have very strict rules for their children concerning sex before marriage and dating; daughter Jessa has reached the age where she’s ready to date, but first she has to enter a courtship with the boy she likes, which is much different.

    “Courting is getting to know each other in a group setting, both families spending time together and the couple setting goals together to determine if they are meant to marry. With dating, a couple will often pair off alone and that sometimes leads to a more physical relationship. Courtship is not just about having fun. You are really considering if this person could be your life partner – you pray about it and see what happens,” Michelle explained recently.

    Michelle and Jim Bob count 19 children and three grandchildren among their brood; if Michelle becomes pregnant soon she will be 48 when she has the baby.

    Image: Entertainment Tonight screenshot

  • Jessa Duggar Enters Courtship with Boy from Church

    Jessa Duggar, the third daughter in the famous Duggar familiy, has entered courtship with a young man she met at church, Ben Seewald from Hot Springs, Arkansas. There is a two year difference between the two, Jessa being 20 and Ben, 18, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem.

    “We are so excited for Ben and Jessa,” Jim Bob, Jessa’s father and patriarch on the show 19 KIds and Counting tells PEOPLE. “They are enjoying getting to know each other and are recommending sermons to one another.”

    So what exactly is courting and how is it different from dating?

    Jim Bob explains: “Courting is getting to know each other in a group setting, both families spending time together and the couple setting goals together to determine if they are meant to marry. With dating, a couple will often pair off alone and that sometimes leads to a more physical relationship.”

    Michelle adds,”Courtship is not just about having fun,” she continues. “You are really considering if this person could be your life partner – you pray about it and see what happens.”

    Jessa’s older brother Josh, now married with children also had a courtship that was featured on the long-running reality show. But, his first kiss with his now-wife, Anna, was saved for their wedding.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkEXmsOnqTY

    “Dad allowed them to do a side hug when they were officially courting,” Michelle, 47, explains about Josh and Anna. “Jessa and Ben have said that was the only contact they would have, when they initially greet each other, when he comes to visit for their first hello, they have a quick 30 second or less side hug and a goodbye side hug and they agreed that would be the only contact they should have.”

    “They want to wait on the physical relationship until later,” she adds. “If there is an engagement that comes about, they will work together on their goals and standards for that.”

    “It is sweet as a mom to watch Jessa go through this,” says Michelle. “She’s always been the organizer in our family unit and right now she is a little distracted. She and Ben are open to encourage others who may be considering relationships that you can stay morally pure and wait for the one God has for you and then on your wedding day, begin the physical aspects of your relationship.”

    Ben has asked the parents, Jim Bob and Michelle to be allowed to communicate with Jessa by phone and text. He was granted permission and the family is very pleased with how things are going. “Jessa has a very steady personality,” says Michelle. “It has been interesting to watch their interactions because for her personality type, they share very similar beliefs. It has been fun to watch them and both of our phones are going off back and forth, ping, ping, ping.”

    They mostly talk about scripture and theology.

    Many a young man have approached Jim Bob to ask if they could begin courtship with Jessa, as well as his other older daughters, but Jim Bob says that Ben is the first to make the cut.

    “He’s the first one she has shown interest in that has a spiritual focus and legitimate calling about ministry work,” he says. “When a guy is pursing your daughter, you want to check him out and see if there are any red flags and with Ben, there hasn’t been. He is very sharp. It appears like a match made in heaven.”

    Jim Bob said, “All of our family is involved in this relationship. It is an exciting time.”

    Image via facebook

  • Jessa Duggar Allowed “Side-Hug” With Boyfriend

    Jessa Duggar, the third-eldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle, has entered a “courtship” period with a boy from a local town, and the family is thrilled…but that doesn’t mean anything will be happening anytime soon.

    The Duggars became famous after a one-off special about their large family on TLC turned into a series, “19 And Counting” and use their fame to spread the word about their beliefs through churches around the country. They don’t believe in birth control or sex before marriage and have very strict guidelines concerning dress and behavior, especially when it comes time to find a significant other. For that reason, Jessa must be very careful about her new relationship.

    A courtship is different from dating, according to Michelle, in that the young couple will spend a lot of time with their families rather than being alone away from the house.

    “Courting is getting to know each other in a group setting, both families spending time together and the couple setting goals together to determine if they are meant to marry. With dating, a couple will often pair off alone and that sometimes leads to a more physical relationship. Courtship is not just about having fun. You are really considering if this person could be your life partner – you pray about it and see what happens,” she said.

    Of course, the family is always in the know when it comes to the teens getting together, and have a definitive say on how physical they can get.

    “Dad allowed them to do a side hug when they were officially courting,” Michelle said.. “Jessa and Ben have said that was the only contact they would have, when they initially greet each other, when he comes to visit for their first hello, they have a quick 30 second or less side hug and a goodbye side hug and they agreed that would be the only contact they should have.”

    The family of 21–including eldest Joshua, who is married with three children of his own–will be back at it on Tuesday night on TLC.

    Image: YouTube

  • Anna Duggar Has Her Third Child, Marcus Anthony

    Earlier this year, Michelle Duggar, the matriarch of the family depicted in the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, mentioned that she and her husband, Jim Bob, might be considering adoption now that she has had difficulties carrying her latest pregnancies to term. Her last pregnancy, in 2011, ended in a miscarriage and her youngest child, Josie, was born a premature 22 ounces in 2011 following a short 25-week pregnancy. The Duggar’s may not need to adopt to get their baby fix however, now that their number of grandchildren is increasing rapidly.

    Josh Duggar, Michelle’s oldest, this week announced that he and his wife, Anna, have given birth to their third child. Marcus Anthony Duggar was born on June 2. He weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 21 inches long at birth. The couple’s other children are 3-year-old Mackynzie Renée and 1-year-old Michael James.

    The birth announcement came on Facebook and the 19 Kids and Counting TLC blog. Over 30,000 people have “Liked” the birth announcement of Facebook:

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    19 Kids and Counting22 hours ago

    Congratulations to Josh and Anna on the birth of their son, Marcus! Leave your best wishes in the comments and don’t miss the 19 Kids and Counting: Grand Duggar special Sunday, June 16th at 8/7c! http://ow.ly/1XbqzI

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  • Duggars: Adoption Being Considered

    Duggars: Adoption Being Considered

    Michelle Duggar may be one of the toughest women in the U.S. Having given birth to 19 children in 21 years, her body has no doubt seen more than its fair share of miles. Now, it appears that it could be time for Duggar to retire, at least from the baby-making portion of her motherhood.

    Duggar’s latest pregnancy, in 2011, ended in a miscarriage. The youngest Duggar child, Josie, was born prematurely in 2011. After a short 25-week pregnancy, Josie was born weighing just 22 ounces. At 45 years old, Michelle Duggar is past the age where doctors begin to warn that pregnancies come with serious health risks for both mother and child. It now appears that the Duggar family is considering adoption as an alternative to another pregnancy.

    Duggar told People magazine this week that she and her husband, Jim Bob, may adopt children into their overpacked family, saying, “We are open to the idea of adoption.”

    Michelle told People that she and her family are praying to their god about adoption, though she makes it clear her children are encouraging them to expand the family further.

    The Duggar family are the stars of the TLC reality TV show 19 Kids and Counting. In addition to their 19 children, the Duggars currently have two grandchildren, with more undoubtedly on the way.

    (Image courtesy Jim Bob Duggar/Wikimedia Commons)

  • Michelle Duggar: Hair Makeover Is Good, She Swears

    After receiving a surprise makeover from her kids and good friend on her birthday this year, Michelle Duggar said she wasn’t sure how she felt about the big change. Now, she insists, it was a good thing.

    Duggar–who is mom to 19 children–has had the same style for all of her adult life, prompting her savvy daughters to set up a friendly ambush in order to chop off the long, curly mullet she’d been growing for years. When she turned around in the salon chair, she was obviously shocked at the transformation.

    “I thought, “This is what I look like when I get out of the shower!” Michelle said of the sleek cut, which her daughters said made her look “amazing”.

    Though it appeared to have grown on her a bit as the day went on, Michelle said she wasn’t sure she would hold onto the style after husband Jim Bob expressed that he favored her hair on the long side.

    “I enjoyed the fact that my whole family and my girls came up with this amazing way of showing how much they loved me with a 24-hour birthday surprise…“I know Jim Bob likes it long and I am trying to impress him — what he likes is what I want,” she says. “I think he was a little shocked at first, it was so straight and so different. But he does like it. I think I shocked everyone at the [birthday] party. They were very surprised.”

    Michelle insists she does like the new look now that the shock has worn off, but her 2-year old still isn’t sure about it.

    “Little Josie kept touching my hand and saying, ‘Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?’ She wanted to make sure I was still me.”

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    Michelle before her makeover

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    Image: Peter Kramer