16 kids with J names.... OMG....

Mom delivers 16th child, thinking of more

Wednesday, October 12, 2005; Posted: 8:37 p.m. EDT (00:37 GMT)

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- Michelle Duggar just delivered her 16th child, and she's already thinking about doing it again.

Johannah Faith Duggar was born at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and weighed 7 pounds, 6.5 ounces.

The baby's father, Jim Bob Duggar, a former state representative, said Wednesday that mother and child were doing well. Johannah's birth was especially exciting because it was the first time in eight years the family has had a girl, he said.

Jim Bob Duggar, 40, said he and Michelle, 39, want more children.

"We both just love children, and we consider each a blessing from the Lord. I have asked Michelle if she wants more and she said yes... if the Lord wants to give us some, she will accept them," he said in a telephone interview.

The Discovery Health Channel filmed Johannah's birth, and plans to air a show about the family in May.

The Learning Channel is doing another show about the family's construction project, a 7,000-square foot house that should be finished before Christmas. The home, which the family from the northwest Arkansas town of Rogers has been building for two years, will have nine bathrooms, dormitory-style bedrooms for the girls and boys, a commercial kitchen, four washing machines and four dryers.

Jim Bob Duggar, who sells real estate, previously lost his bid for the U.S. Senate. He said he expects to run for the state Senate next year, but isn't ready to make a formal announcement.

Michelle Duggar, 39, had her first child at age 21, four years after the couple married.

Their children include two sets of twins, and each child has a name beginning with the letter "J": Joshua, 17; John David, 15; Janna, 15; Jill, 14; Jessa, 12; Jinger, 11; Joseph, 10; Josiah, 9; Joy-Anna, 8; Jeremiah, 6; Jedidiah, 6; Jason, 5; James, 4; Justin, 2; Jackson Levi, 1; and now Johannah.


I heard about this family last year when they were expecting little Jackson.

They said they never intended to bring up such a large family, says Sky News Online.

Michelle told CBS: "I don't think it was our intention when we first married, but I think we realised children are a gift."

The deeply-religious southern Baptist family is schooled at home and sew their own clothes to cut down costs.

"The older child gets to become the teacher and it seems like you learn so much more... than when you're just the student," Michelle said at the time.

And the new baby may not be the last. "I would like more. I guess we'll have to wait and see," she said.

I guess she got her wish for more kids! Think there will be confusion between Joy-Anna and Johannah when the names are called out?! And what kind of name is Jinger? (I suppose it's better than the ones listed here, but still...) o_O

Oh, and here's their website. I'm all for new babies and such, but there comes a time when you just have to stop making them! :P As for the names all starting with the same letter... well, that's okay up to a point... imagine getting mail addressed to just "Mr. J. Duggar" and imagine the confusion that will inevitably result! Oh well, maybe she'll run out of J names eventually... but then she just might make up her own! Aiya...