Baby Josie Duggar Celebrates First Birthday
Filed under: Twins, Triplets, Multiples, Celeb News & Interviews
The littlest Duggar, Baby Josie, has just passed an important milestone -- one that even her parents thought she might not reach: Her first birthday.
When she was born via emergency cesarean-section on Dec. 10, 2009, weighing only 1 lb. 6 oz., the family, and especially Mama Michelle Duggar, feared for the preemie's life.
"We didn't know if she was going to live. She was so tiny and fragile, the size of Dad's hand," she tells ParentDish, referring to her husband, Jim Bob.
But a year later, Josie weighs 16 lbs., and she's doing well developmentally, though she continues with monitoring and receiving oxygen when she sleeps, the ubermom says.
"She's so strong," Duggar of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" says. "She's saying da-da. She has an iron grip. She's a funky little fighter; she had to be to stay with us this long. I thank God; we are so grateful."
The family, steeped in the QuiverFull religion, is quick to acknowledge the power of prayer. Eight-year-old Justin gave his mom all the spiritual props: "Mama, you prayed for that," he told her yesterday.
Josie Duggar in July, shortly after she was released from the hospital. Credit: Scott Enlow, TLC
Little Josie is bright-eyed and smiling, and though she might not have real pigtails yet, she's sporting a Bebe Doos headband with faux blonde hair.
"Our babies don't have hair for the first year-and-a-half," Duggar laughs. "We love these."
A balder Baby Josie initially went home from the hospital on April 6, but she was readmitted two days later. She finally went home for good in June. "We are so thankful," Duggar told ParentDish in August. "It could've been much more serious."
Now, to celebrate Josie's first birthday, Mom has cut out a giant number 1, which her younger kids are decorating in pink with polka dots. She plans to start a new tradition of taking a photograph every year with the three little Duggars who are the same age. Other daughter Jordyn turns 2 on Dec. 18 and her granddaughter Mackynzie was born on Oct. 8, 2009.
In addition to the fun photo, the Duggars will throw Josie a proper ice cream and confetti-poppers birthday party -- either tomorrow or Thursday -- when the rest of the family arrives back from a mission in Central America, specifically Honduras and El Salvador. Daddy Duggar took 10 of the older kids with him in an effort to teach the Duggar youth to help others.
"In the spirit of the season, Jesus gave the greatest gift and we need to reach into our own lives and be sacrificial for others as well," Mom Duggar says. "It's about giving others their basic needs and not expecting anything in return."
And speaking of not expecting anything, baby Josie has no idea that a riding toy is at the top of the list of birthday gifts from her family, along with new pajamas in the next size up, nine months. Josie is just growing out of her six-month size pjs, Duggar says.
As for her own 44th birthday back in September, Mama Duggar says she's still using the elliptical machine -- sometimes twice a day -- she received from the family, adding that she only has 10 more pounds to drop until she's at her ideal weight.
And then what? Will she get pregnant again?
"I would love more and we're hoping we're not finished," she says. "But at this point, I'm not pregnant."











ReaderComments (Page 1 of 8)
12-14-2010 @ 8:05PM
L.Borja said...Time for mama duggar to get fixed. Why keep bring children into the world just to make money off them.
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12-14-2010 @ 9:08PM
dee said...The ones who should be 'fixed' are you and the welfare moms. They actually have JOBS.
12-14-2010 @ 10:04PM
pmackinnon said...I TOTALLY agree with you, it makes me sick to see that she's bringing all these kids into the world. If it wasn't for the network paying for everything what would they do? I was a divorced Mom with one child and I got NOTHING...... You can call me uncaring, but, they have everything going for them. Maybe I should have 18 more kids to get what they have gotten over the years. They are making a mockery of motherhood... And those poor young girls don't have a life because they are taking care of all the younger ones. Seems to me they are just having babies to have babies.
12-14-2010 @ 10:35PM
Barb said...They had 17 and were doing quite nicely before they were approached to do the tv show.
12-15-2010 @ 9:13AM
Juanita said...The Duggars DID NOT have children in order to make money. They had those children because that is what God in Heaven chose for them. When you are dedicated to Jesus, you only have children when He sees fit. He blessed me with eight. When I was one month pregnant with my oldest child, God gave me a vision of eight children and their names, and that is the exact order in which they were born. Children are from the LORD. They are His reward to the righteous man. The Duggars would have had money with or without children because they are resourceful and diligent folks. Thank God for people like them. We need more.
12-14-2010 @ 8:09PM
chris said...19 Children? NINETEEN?
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12-14-2010 @ 11:40PM
LN said...So what? My grandfather had 22, and they all grew up to be hard working, loyal, loving, moral individuals. I thank God every day for my large and supportive family.
12-15-2010 @ 2:07AM
Rachelle said...I agree with Barb, who are we to judge them? thay are the most awesome well behaved and educated people and children I have ever met! and they were fine before being approached with the tv proposition
12-15-2010 @ 9:13AM
Juanita said...The Duggar children have a wonderful life. They are being taught to love the Lord and care about others. People who say bad things about them obviously do not know Jesus or the Bible. The Bible tells us to have children and to teach them God's Way. It could be that one of them will grow up to be the one to help bring real peace to this old evil world. When you are dedicated to God and your life pleases Him, you will only have children when He sees fit. You do not need any birth control. He has His reasons for giving children or withholding them. Either way He is in control.
12-14-2010 @ 8:24PM
Michele said...These Duggars make me sick to my stomach. That woman should be ashamed of herself and she and her husband need psychiatric help.
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12-14-2010 @ 10:38PM
Midge said...Exactly -- and these people keep on having kids -- no matter if they are sickly -- and once they are "gone" who will take care of these sickly children -- why, the government will -- talk about stupidity and selfishness -- one of them needs to get fixed(preferably both) and soon!
12-14-2010 @ 11:48PM
LN said...Actually Midge, that's probably something someone selfish like you would do. The Duggar family seems pretty close knit. No doubt if the parents died before the babies were grown, the elder children would step in to care for their siblings. Yes, I know. It's old school. Imagine that. A family taking care of it's members.
12-15-2010 @ 5:54AM
Sharon Bearden said...the government and tv take care of these kids already or were they born millionaires? Time to keep your you know what in your pants. this is just sick!
12-15-2010 @ 10:16PM
Traci said...She should be ashamed of herself for having children?? Suddenly there's something wrong with women having babies? YOU need help!
12-21-2010 @ 12:26PM
Kristy said...Mr. Duggar was a state assemblyman. They have real estate investments and commercial property and are not dependent on welfare or the TV show. If they can afford to take care of the kids, I certainly don't have a problem with it, though there's no way I'd do that myself!
12-14-2010 @ 8:19PM
donna newkirk said...What has this family done that should be looked up to or admired? having a bunch of kids is easy, preventing to many is the hard part.
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12-14-2010 @ 8:20PM
fliingv said...they should rename the show, Let me off my Back
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12-15-2010 @ 6:36AM
mstilyn said...A very Happy 1st Birthday to Baby Josie! May you have many more. You are a true Blessing from the Lord! I pray for you when you were first born. The power of prayer is so grand. Can't wait to see you and your beatiful family on TLC. Have a very Merry Christmas. Jesus is the Reason for the Season! God Bless!!
marilyn Hemler
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12-14-2010 @ 8:27PM
Wednesdaywitch said...If this is what makes them happy to have a big family then why make nasty comments?Only miserable people would do that!So long as they can afford to care for and give their children a loving home.Then may they be blessed with more children if they want them.May they enjoy life, live, love and be happy!
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12-14-2010 @ 8:35PM
shari1mm said...The duggers need to use condoms. This is ridiculous. They are not prairie people who need children to work the fields. The mother is going to need a hysterectomy before she knows it. Her insides must be tramatized.
Now there will be 19 more from each kid. BUT GOD MADE IT HAPPEN.. HA HA
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