Baby Duggar No. 17 Is Born

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

Jennifer Danielle Duggar won't ever have to look far for a playmate. After all, the newest member of the Duggar clan has 16 other siblings to keep her entertained. Have you heard the news? Jim Bob Duggar and his wife, Michelle who became household names after they appeared in a series of popular documentary shows on TLC and Discovery Health, welcomed their 17th child yesterday.

According to her dad, Jennifer weighed in at nearly 9 pounds and was six days overdue. In keeping with family tradition of giving their children a name that begins with J, the Duggar's decided to name their new daughter Jennifer.

Papa Duggar told news reporters that both baby and mom are doing well. Michelle Duggar did an interview with a local paper in the family's Arkansas hometown prior to giving birth and shared her thoughts on welcoming baby number 17. The 40-year-old mom who was 21 when she got pregnant with her first child said her latest pregnancy was "uneventful" and that she had plenty of energy.

"With each baby, God's given me the grace and the energy to keep going, and they really keep you going," Duggar 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."

If you are unfamiliar with the family's story you should know that the Duggar's live debt-free in a 7,000-square foot home they built themselves in Tontitown, Arkansas. The Duggar's also home school all of their children except for their oldest child, Joshua who is 19. The Duggar's other children (including two sets of twins) are John David and Janna, 17; Jill, 15; Jessa, 14; Jinger, 13; Joseph, 12; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 10; Jeremiah, and Jedidiah, 8; Jason, 7, James, 5; Justin, 4; Jackson Levi, 2; and 19-month-old Johanna Faith.

And, yes, the couple is already discussing having more children.

"Really, our heart is we would love to receive whatever gifts or blessings the Lord wants to give us," Michelle Duggar said. "But I love the baby stage and I can't imagine life without having a toddler in the house."

According to Duggar, her two oldest daughters who both have an interest in becoming midwives or nurses attended Jennifer's birth. (They also witnessed the birth of their sister Johanna in 2005.)

I've seen all of the Duggar's documentaries and can say that the trait that I admire the most about Michelle Duggar is her humility. Despite having 17 children she doesn't claim to be an "expert" on child rearing (like some moms with two children do).

Michelle said prior to giving birth to Jennifer: "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, but 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."

Spoken like a true mom.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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