Duggars welcome first grandchild as they await 19th child

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The Duggar family welcomed the first of their next generation, grandchild Mackynzie Renée Duggar, yesterday. She was born to oldest Duggar child Josh, 21, and his wife Anna. They were married in September 2008. People points out that although Mackynzie is Josh and Anna’s first child, Josh obviously has a ton of childcare experience, having helped raise his 17 younger siblings. I bet he’s really excited for more diaper duty. People’s interview with Josh is very sweet, and it sounds like he was very involved and attentive during Anna’s pregnancy.

There’s doting – and then there’s Duggar doting.

Mackynzie Renée Duggar is in for an avalanche of family attention: She’s not only the first grandchild in the reality TV clan, but she already has 17 aunts and uncles, plus one more on the way, since her grandparents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are expecting their 19th child in the spring.

Mackynzie was born at the home of her parents, Joshua and Anna, with a midwife and doula attending the birth. “Josh was excited to participate in the birth as well,” says a family friend. “They are both so happy.”

Josh has been front and center in his wife’s first pregnancy – telling her the news that she was pregnant after she was too nervous to look at her own pregnancy test, and reading and singing to his daughter before she was born.

“I ask Anna what she needs,” Josh told PEOPLE in July. “I talk to the baby and we involve her in our conversations. When Anna and I are talking to each other, we’ll say, ‘So, how do you like that, Mackynzie?’ ”

Although Mackynzie is his first child, Josh knows all about raising babies. He’s the oldest child of Jim Bob and MIchelle Duggar of Tonitown, Ark., who went on to have twins Jana and John-David, 19; Jill, 18; Jessa, 16; Jinger, 15; Joseph, 14; Josiah, 13; Joy-Anna, 11; twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, 10; Jason, 9; James, 8; Justin, 6; Jackson, 5; Johanna, 3; Jennifer, 2 and Jordyn-Grace, 9 months.

The newest Duggar’s name came from a combination Josh’s cousin’s name (Mackynzie) and Anna’s middle name (Renée), but the couple hasn’t completely committed to “M” being the letter to begin all their children’s names. The Duggars famously have chosen “J” names for all their children.

[From People]

Mackynzie is absolutely adorable, by the way (pictures are on People’s site). I know we’re supposed to say that about all babies, but let’s be honest; some newborns look a little “angry Shar-Pei” like. I’m not one to talk, as I was bright yellow, had no eyebrows or eyelashes (I was a little ahead of schedule) and everyone kept calling me “he.” But Mackynzie has done justice to cute new babies. She has really fully, pretty lips too – I can’t help but wonder if People applied some lip gloss or something before the photogs went to town.

Even though Mackynzie will be the oldest in her immediate family, she’s already got a built-in network of playmates with all those aunts and uncles within a few years of her age. They’ll probably be more like cousins. I can’t help but wonder if Josh and Anna are going to go for a lot of kids too. Something tells me they’ll probably have more than the average family, but won’t try to break any Guinness records or anything. Maybe 5 or 6 kids. Congrats to the new parents!

Photos from TLC. Header photo of pregnant Michelle and Jim Bob with then-pregnant daughter-in-law Anna and son Josh.
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41 Responses to “Duggars welcome first grandchild as they await 19th child”

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  1. HS says:

    Well, from what I can tell- it was a home birth am super excited about that.
    That’s one more for the people and one less for the greedy doctor.

    (let the slinging begin)

    as a side note- I have birthed at the hospital and I have had had a home birth. Home birth rules people, home birth rules. (and yes, there are OBVIOUSLY EXCEPTIONS and I am fine w/ that)

  2. Alexa says:

    Love the Duggars! So refreshing to have a t.v. program showing a glimpse into a HEALTHY family’s life for a change.

  3. girl says:

    Very cool that they got a home birth. I am not a HB mama but it sounds like a wonderful experience.

    Congrats to them. I hope I can say it here but I hate the way they spelled their baby’s name. It looks pretty trailer trash. Or like it is supposed to be pronounced “MackEENzee”. And that just sounds trailer.

  4. MightyMouse says:

    Wow, HS. I agree that birth has become more of a medical procedure and less of a human experience, but “greedy doctor”? OB/GYNs pay outrageous malpractice insurance just for the privilege of helping women give birth safely.

    I, too, have given birth in a hospital with a physician and at home with a midwife. The home birth was far more fulfilling than the hospital birth. However, that was my personal preference. Women should not be chastised for choosing to go to a hospital. And doctors should not be vilified for being compensated for their education and experience.

    By the way, just so my allegiances are laid bare, I’m an OB nurse studying to become a midwife. There is beauty in the birth experience no matter where it occurs.

  5. DoMaJoReMc says:

    @ Alexa:

    I know, huh? I really wonder what their feelings are about the whole Gosselin FIASCO! Seeing the kind (and I DO mean KIND) of people they are, they probably say prayers for the Gosselins.

    Totally refreshing!

  6. Sakota says:

    A new life is always something to celebrate. Congrats!

  7. Lem says:

    Don’t forget Anna herself is one of 9 (+/-)and her mom just had a baby so, up goes the playmate/aunt/uncle count.

    Congrats to the happy couple!
    ..
    @ HS: I must misunderstand. re:people vs greedy dr.s.
    If I would have had my babies at home; which I considered, they’d both be dead. There is something to be said for the doctors (or midwives, in my case)

  8. Jillian says:

    Congrats, Anna. But please do something with your hair. The bangs are way too flat.

  9. Kitty says:

    During their televised wedding ceremony, Josh and Anna vowed not to limit the size of their family, just like the older Duggars did. It is not something I’d do, but it seems as if the Duggars at least support their family (not just through the show). I’m sure Josh and Anna are in for quite a load of kids, too.

  10. hatsumomo says:

    Congratulations to them! How wonderful!

  11. AlaskaJoey says:

    I still say once your children start reproducing, it’s time for you to STOP.

  12. Weekends Off says:

    I love the Duggers! Little Joanna is my favorite kid. But this new grandbaby is just beautiful. What a little Angel.

  13. birdie says:

    jeeeze, that first photo belongs on Awkwardfamilyphotos.com

    By the way Jaybird, Josh and Anna were asked the same question about how many children they would have on the show. They said they would follow “god’s path” and have as many as “god gave them” … so depending on their fertility, they may have 5, 10, 15, or 20. I’d guess they’re gonna have a huge family.

  14. Kathie says:

    Congrats to the new parents it is a sweet show and they appear to be a loving family. Almost all of their shows are about doing things themselves, illustrating how to save money and cut costs or helping others through service. Mrs. Dugger often says she wants her children to have a “servant’s heart” and help others.

  15. the original kate says:

    the photo of the two expectant couples is creeping me out.

  16. Ellen Smith says:

    More right wing religious zealots cloning themselves and their small-minded ways. Let’s see how long Anna’s clown car lasts. I bet she can’t keep up with her mother-in-law.

  17. abbizmal says:

    I would’ve made Mr Dugger wrap his willie before ever coming near me again.

  18. Green Is Good says:

    Michelle won’t stand for any attention being being taken away from her crotch-fruit breeding ability.

  19. Moogirl says:

    Does anyone else look at the top photo and become creeped out by how smugly satisfied the fathers look and how exhausted the mothers look? This family seems as unhealthy to me as the wild, promiscuous, and partying Kardashians reality TV.

  20. RAMONA says:

    I think the Duggars are beautiful people…They live a simple and pure life.

    Their children are the most well behaved, well spoken and best mannered people that I have seen on T.V.

    I look forward to their show because it warms my heart and makes me happy and I think that is a good thing…Michelle is an angel and Jim Bob is a doll and a wonderful example of what parents should really be like … Their love is so strong for one another as well as their family, and that is what radiates onto the screen and into our homes…We should all be so lucky to have experienced that kind of love and happiness just once in our lifetime…

  21. Anastasia says:

    Eck, Mackenzie for a name. Mac means son of. So the name is son of Kenzie. Weirdness.

    I’m with those who are creeped out by the top photo. Looks like Ma Duggar is trying to hold the baby in and also like she is trying to look like her daughter in law.

  22. Anastasia says:

    Oh and Josh and Anna look like brother and sister, almost like twins. THAT is super creepy.

  23. Ana says:

    I like the idea of a home birth, just don’t think I could go through with it. Even though I had a very *easy* pregnancy and birth, I would just be terrified that something would go wrong.
    I actually like staying in a hospital. Well, the two times that I have. The food is awesome.

  24. Dingles says:

    I’m sorry, I just cannot respect this family or any woman whose ONLY goal in life is to spend half of it knocked up and all of it ignorant to everything outside of childrearing. I read that Anna had been upset that it was taking “so long” for them to conceive- I thought the whole point of Quiverfull was to simply accept any child they conceive, not actually go out of their way to breed an army. Ugh…just ugh.

  25. Ellie says:

    Don’t the Duggars not use contraception? It’s against their evangelical branch of Christianity they belong to. It’s why they have so many kids since they believe each child is a “gift from God!” While I think having so many kids is ridiculous they do a better job of managing their family than the Gosselins or Octo Mom.

    Since Josh was raised with the same beliefs, I think he and Anna will probably try to have just as many kids.

  26. Ana says:

    Yes, Anna was upset. Let’s see, they got married in Sept and had a baby in Oct. So it took about 4 months which isn’t long at all!!

  27. Paulette says:

    These people seriously creep me out. They remind me of an insect colony – a queen that exists to produce eggs, a younger generation that tends to the larva while the queen continues to mate and feed…

  28. xanthina says:

    Mackenzie means Son Of Kenneth, not Kenzie.

    And fertility is an odd thing… i was on the pill, and conceived just three months into my marriage. Yeah for a due date 3 days after my first anniversary. Lucky me she was a bit comfy, and was born a full week later.

  29. Uzi says:

    This isn’t a family, it’s a litter! They need to find a doctor who offers a group rate on vasectomies!

  30. hula says:

    their plastic smiles are creepy… ugh

  31. minx says:

    the photo of the two couples is creeping me out.. the women that lobotomized, Stepford look (particularly Michelle-check out the second pic!) and the men share that smug owner-breeder expression. I bet the son will try to outdo the father in the number of kids–if his wife was nervous because she couldn’t conceive instantly, I’m sure she’s feeling the pressure to perform. Sickening.

  32. Peg says:

    I wish the little baby well but I am totally appalled by the careless breeding by this family. Talk about overpopulation! Try some birth control. What if everyone just bred like this? The earth’s limited resources would have been long ago exceeded. I supposed the popular thing now is to try for world record breeding and hope you can support them from reality TV.

  33. Jennifer says:

    Peg…have you seen statistics on birth rates? Many many people are having a lot of children, they are just not white and not on TV.

  34. filthycute says:

    These people are plain f*cking weird!

  35. Rani7 says:

    C’mon people. They are not on public assistance! They are supporting their own children. What is it to you how many kids they have?. They seems like a really grounded, happy family. All the best.

  36. MymaJane says:

    My boyfriend is a paramedic and has gone on 23 calls for home births gone wrong in just 2009 alone. I understand women wanting to be comfortable, but the risks just aren’t worth it to me.

    Having said that, I’ve had many friends give birth with a midwife while IN A HOSPITAL. That seems safer to me, just incase anything should go wrong.

  37. Wresa says:

    Even though I would never choose the lifestyle they do, I think it is refreshing to see an organized, respectful family on TV for a change.

  38. mercymay says:

    at first I thought it was kinda sweet, but it’s getting kinda creepy – especially with #19 on the way…. do they just live off donations and TV shows? what happens if that all ends?

  39. Yae says:

    The Duggars are beautiful & spiritual people? Why can’t they break bread with less fortunate children who have no home?
    I suppose they are too spiritual to soil their homes with some adopted children.

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