Baby Dilly Coming Soon!

Baby Dilly #2 is due in early July, which means it's time to guess when the little guy will arrive. Parents Jill Duggar Dillard and Derick Dillard announced his name earlier this month: Samuel Scott Dillard.

Older brother Israel David Dillard was 11 minutes short of being two weeks overdue. He entered the world on April 6th, 2015, weighing an impressive 9 lbs, 10 oz. and measuring 23 inches long. At the time of the birth, the hospital was reported to have only delivered one other baby as long as Israel since the beginning of 2014.

When do you think the Dillards' second son will make his grand entrance, and how much do you think he will weigh?

Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com

Duggars Throw a Baby Shower

Jackson Duggar: "I wish we had one of those automatic stuffers."
Jana Duggar: "You are the automatic stuffer."

Throwing a baby shower is something the Duggars do well. After all, they have had more than a few babies enter their family. In this clip from Monday's episode of Counting On, Sierra comes over to head up a shower for Jessa Seewald's second child just a few weeks before the birth. (Click here to see snapshots.)

To those who have asked about removing auto play from videos hosted by TLC, we have spoken with the network, and they are unable to turn the feature off.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Forsyths in Israel

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth are on the trip of a lifetime! Two-and-a-half weeks ago, they shared a honeymoon video message from beautiful Switzerland. Now, they are in Israel. The newlyweds spent their one-month anniversary, which was yesterday, at the Sea of Galilee.

Joy and Austin Forsyth, Sea of Galilee, Israel

Photo courtesy Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth

'A New Baby' Recap

Counting On "A New Baby"

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• Jill and Jana are over at Jessa’s house. “Compared to my first pregnancy, this time it’s gone by a lot faster,” says Jessa, who is three weeks away from her due date. The sisters listen to the heartbeats of both Jessa and Jill’s babies. Jill is about 13 weeks along and is already feeling her baby kick.
• “Knowing that I’m going to walk through this whole labor and delivery thing all over again…I’m not really looking forward to the process,” says Jessa, who had a long and difficult labor with Spurgeon that resulted in an emergency trip to the hospital after the baby arrived.
• On another day, Jill and Jessa go house hunting. The Seewalds are outgrowing their two-bedroom place, and the Dillards need a home base for when they come back home to Arkansas for visits.
• “I actually really, really love having a small house,” says Jessa. “But practically speaking…it will be a good idea to have a little bit more space.”
• The sisters visit “the Bennett house,” a home that Jim Bob just purchased. “Looks like it’s ready for Halloween,” says Jessa. The house, which used to be owned by family-friend Grandma Bennett, has a huge indoor pool in the middle and needs lots of work. Neither of the girls is eager to move into it. 
• Meanwhile, Joy and Austin are in Fayetteville flipping Austin’s fifth house, with Austin’s dad as their chaperone. “Joy is amazing,” says Austin. “She can do just about anything, and if she doesn’t know how to do it, she can learn really quick. She’s such a diligent worker. She’s very thorough.”
• “I’ve learned that he cannot do two things at once,” says Joy of Austin, laughing.
• On another day, while Austin is at the house alone, Jim Bob comes over for a tour, and Austin asks for his blessing to propose.
• Jim Bob pauses, says a few words about Joy and Austin’s relationship, and tells Austin how highly Joy and all the Duggars think of him. “You have Mom and I’s blessing,” he finally says. Austin wants to sell the house before he pops the question.
• Later, Jana, Jill, Jessa, Joy, and some of the little ones video chat with Jinger. Jill asks Jinger if she’s pregnant, and she looks at her sisters with a blank stare. “Not that I know of,” she says. “No, we’re not.” Jessa says she had told the girls not to ask.
• Jana comes over to Jessa’s house to help pull all her newborn stuff out of storage and prepare for the home birth. “I think there could be some jealousy issues with Spurgeon when this new baby comes,” says Jana. “He’ll have to learn to share.”
• Back at the big house, Sierra comes over to host Jessa’s baby shower, which will be attended by more than 100 guests. (They didn’t ask ladies to RSVP, so they aren’t quite sure how many will show up.)
• Rather than bring gifts for her, Jessa has requested that guests bring donations for Loving Choices pregnancy center. Friends come over to help the Duggars make food and put up decorations. Even some of the boys pitch in.
• The guests arrive, and the party beings. “It is very likely that my three older sisters and I could be pregnant at the same time,” says Joy.
• Instead of playing games, the guests put together gift bags for the moms at Loving Choices. Jessa and Ben know that their baby is a boy, as do Jana and Joy. Joy says she told Austin, and Jana says she told someone but won’t say who.
• Later, several of the siblings hang giant plastic bags filled with balloons (one of pink balloons and one of blue) from the ceiling for the gender reveal.
• Jessa and Spurgeon video chat with Jinger, who is helping Jeremy start a Spanish ministry at their church. “I don’t think I’ll be video chatting while she’s in labor,” says Jinger. “That’s not quite my thing.”
• Jessa, Ben, and Spurgeon go to Tacos 4 Life for a family date night. The Seewalds say they plan to transfer to the hospital if the labor goes as long as it did last time. 
• Jessa's water breaks at 11pm, four days after her due date. A few hours later, Jill, Michelle, and Jana head over to assist, as does an additional midwife. 
• This delivery is much quicker than Spurgeon's. When Henry arrives around 4:30am, both Jessa and Ben start crying. The emotions continue while Jessa goes through post birth, as Ben prays that they won't have to transport to the hospital. Everything ends well, and Spurgeon surprisingly sleeps through the entire birth. 
• The next morning, Jessa and Ben share the gender with Justin. Back at the Duggar house, everyone makes their guesses, and Justin pulls the cord that releases the blue balloons. "I was kind of having some fun with keeping it to myself for a second," says Justin. Unfortunately, the whole bag of balloons falls, but the moment is still exciting. 
• Spurgeon meets his brother when he wakes up later that morning. The introduction doesn't go so well, and Spurgeon seems to be a little upset that Mommy is holding another baby. But the Seewalds are confident that the boys will be good friends. 
• "This home birth experience was the ultimate," says Jessa. "Not that I didn't wail and scream a whole lot, but there were no complications..."
• That afternoon, the Duggars come over to meet the baby. Jessa and Ben decide on the name Henry Wilberforce about three days after the birth.

Henry's TV Debut

Henry Seewald is on his way! In this third promo video for tonight's new episode of Counting On, Jessa and Ben Seewald welcome their second son. The other Duggars pitch in to help, with Jill Dillard, Jana Duggar, and Michelle Duggar on the birth team and Joseph Duggar running errands.

To those who have asked about removing auto play from videos hosted by TLC, we have spoken with the network, and they are unable to turn the feature off.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Austin Asks Jim Bob's Blessing

"It's a lot to ask of a man to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, and it's a huge responsibility for me to take on, and I don't take it lightly."

-Austin Forsyth 

Coming up tonight on the two-hour Counting On special, Austin Forsyth gives future father-in-law Jim Bob Duggar, whom he calls Mr. Jim Bob, a tour of the house he has just finished renovating and is ready to sell. At age 17, Austin made a commitment to his dad that he would flip five houses before marriage, and this is his fifth house.

When the tour is over, 23-year-old Austin asks the Duggar dad for permission to propose to 19-year-old Joy-Anna Duggar. See Jim Bob's reaction in the video below. If you missed Saturday's promo video, in which the Duggar sisters ask Jinger Vuolo if she is pregnant, click here to watch it.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Duggars and Dillards in Branson

A group of Duggars and Dillards are spending their Saturday at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Won't be long before another little one joins in on the fun, as Jill Dillard is due with Baby Dilly #2 in just a few weeks.

Derick Dillard, Jill Dillard, Israel Dillard, Jana Duggar, Jordyn Duggar, 

Jennifer Duggar, Josie Duggar, Johannah Duggar, Laura (a family-friend), Mackynzie Duggar

Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com

Is Jinger Pregnant? Duggar Sisters Want to Know

Monday's new episode of Counting On will be a two-hour show featuring Henry Seewald's birth and Austin Forsyth's big discussion with Jim Bob Duggar. Jinger Vuolo is thrilled to video chat with the four Duggar sisters who are back home in Arkansas, but she is caught off-guard when they ask her point blank if she is pregnant (see the promo video below from the Us Weekly website).

Video courtesy TLC/Us Weekly; photo courtesy TLC

Duggar Daughter-In-Love Turns 29

Wishing Anna Duggar a very happy 29th birthday! On this day nine years ago, boyfriend Josh Duggar surprised her in Florida and proposed. Anna has been through a lot in the past nine years, but she has continued to trust God in the midst of it all, and He is making beauty from ashes. She and Josh will soon welcome their fifth child, a son.

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com, Josh and Anna Duggar, TLC, DCL

Anniversary Wishes for the Dillards

"Derick, you are a great husband and father, and Jill you're a sweet mom and wife, and y'all make a dynamic couple."
-Jim Bob Duggar

In celebration of Jill and Derick Dillard's three-year anniversary, some of the Duggars shared their well wishes. Take a look at the following clips from Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and Jessa and Ben Seewald.

Photo/videos courtesy duggarfamily.com, theseewaldfamily.com

Dillards Celebrate 3 Years

 Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard

First look, ahead of the wedding, June 21, 2014

Wishing Jill and Derick Dillard a happy three-year wedding anniversary! To celebrate, the couple took a anniversary trip/babymoon to Branson Missouri, where they visited Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City and stayed at the Bradford Inn.

Photos courtesy TLC/David Welker, dillardfamily.com

Wedding and Engagement YouTube Videos

Knowing that our international readers are unable to view the videos we post directly from the TLC website, we make a point of sharing the clips a second time, after the network uploads them to YouTube. Here are the latest:

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth Greet Each Other On Their Wedding Day

Joy and Austin's First Video Message After Marriage

Engagement Message from Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell

Photo/videos courtesy TLC

Recap: 'Spurgeon's 1st Birthday' and Amy and Dillon: Married One Year'

Counting On "Spurgeon's First Birthday"

• Down in Laredo, Jinger and Jeremy head to a local market to buy food. “I love living in Laredo,” says Jinger. “It’s just a neat area.” She hopes to learn Spanish because so many people in Laredo speak it.
• Italian-blooded Jeremy gets a little too excited when he sees a five-pound block of fresh mozzarella cheese. He buys the whole thing, thinking they have a grater. Jinger is a little apprehensive, but she just shrugs her shoulders and carries on. When they return home, Jeremy pulls out the potato peeler, and Jinger busts out laughing.
• Jinger cooks fajitas while Jeremy works out in their apartment.
• Jinger and Jeremy say they are looking forward to starting a family in God's timing. “I think we would love to start a family…in the next five years,” says Jeremy.
• In Arkansas, Anna and Jill bring their kids over to Jessa’s house to prepare for a consignment shopping trip. They take measurements of their kiddos so they don’t have to try clothes on.
• On the day of the sale, shopping with six children proves to be very difficult. Although the ladies are watching their kids very closely, Marcus falls and splits his head. Anna remains calm and applies pressure to the cut. She and Jill take Marcus to the doctor’s office to get stitches, while
• Jessa wraps up the shopping trip and takes the other five kids home. “I can definitely see this happening to me one day,” says Jill. “I just hope I can respond with as much grace…as Anna did.”
• Two months into their courtship, Joy is helping Austin with his fifth house flipping project. Austin’s dad, Terry, is the chaperone. 
• When Austin was 17 and starting work on his first house, his dad suggested he wait until his fourth house sold to start a relationship and until his fifth house sold to get married. Terry shares that Austin started his courtship with Joy the minute his fourth house closed.
• “With this fifth house almost being finished, I have been thinking about next steps,” says Austin. Joy says she feels ready for engagement.
• Later, Joy plans Spurgeon’s first birthday party and enlists the little kids to help. Jessa admits she was relieved when her younger sister offered to organize the party. Michelle and Joy make homemade fruit sorbet while the kids decorate.
• Ben’s mom and siblings come over to attend the party. They recently moved from the country to a house in Little Rock, and it has been a big adjustment (for them and the neighbors). Ben is the oldest of seven.
• “I’m sure I have the sweetest mother-in-law in the whole world,” says Jessa.
• At the party, everyone gathers around while Spurgeon tears into his smash cake. He tolerates it for a short while, but when he takes a taste, he spits up.
• Jessa, Ben, and Spurgeon video chat with Jinger and Jeremy, who had to miss the party. 

"Amy and Dillon: Married One Year"

• Amy Duggar and Dillon King have been married one year. They were friends for six years, dated for eight months, and were engaged less than three months.
• “Marriage is fun, but it’s not for the faint of heart,” says Amy. Her parents divorced partway through the year, which was especially tough. Amy and Dillon appeared on the reality show Marriage Boot Camp in hopes that it would improve their marriage. While they say they learned a lot, they also say that their marriage is still a work in progress.
• The Kings are in the process of renovating their house. They tear out the tile surrounding their fireplace and replace it with stained wood.
• When Amy’s 30^th birthday rolls around, she goes out with a friend, while Dillon pulls together a bunch of surprises. He picks up food, decorates the house (with help) and brings home a new pet cat. “One cat for me is good enough, but Amy really wanted a second cat,” says Dillon. During the party, the men cook the food while the ladies chat. Dillon brings out the cat (a Savannah), and Amy is thrilled. 
• For their one-year anniversary, Amy and Dillon go back to Cancun, Mexico, where they spent their honeymoon. Rather than just lounging on the beach, they go on a zip lining tour through the trees and into a cenote.
• During takeout dinner on the beach, Amy brings up the topic of children and asks Dillon what he is thinking. They both say they want to start a family "sooner rather than later" but that they would like to do some traveling first. 
• Amy also mentions that they aren't using birth control. She says (sort of jokingly but sort of seriously) that if they don't have a child in a year, she wants another cat. Dillon isn't thrilled about the idea of having three cats, so we'll see what happens!

Mozarella Cheese and Birthday Parties

Just a few hours to go until tonight's new episode of Counting On. We already posted one promo video, and we have two more to share.

The first clip is quite comical. While shopping with Jinger in Laredo, Texas, Jeremy Vuolo gets a little too excited about the five-pound block of fresh mozzarella cheese and ends up buying the whole thing. When they return home, he might just find that shredding it is going to be a bit more difficult than he imagined.

In the second video, the Duggars come together to celebrate Spurgeon Seewald's first birthday.

Photo/videos courtesy TLC

Tonight: House Flipping and Duggar Celebrations

"I've learned that if she doesn't know how to do it, you can just show her real quick, and she can figure it out and become better than you at it."
-Austin Forsyth

It's Monday, which means a new episode of Counting On airs tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT on TLC, followed by a special featuring cousin Amy Duggar King and husband Dillon King. Each show will be one hour long. Visit our Showtimes page for episode summaries, and check out the promo video below. We will post a recap of both shows after they air.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Duggar Father's Day Photos

Hope you all had a blessed Father's Day! Here are a few snapshot from the Duggars' celebration, as well as photos of some of the married kids and the dads in their lives.

 Jim Bob Duggar and grandson Henry Seewald

 Jennifer Duggar's note to Jim Bob

 Michelle and the kids' decorations around the house

 Notes to Jim Bob from the Duggar kids

 Johannah Duggar

 Ben Seewald with sons Spurgeon Seewald and Henry Seewald

 Derick Dillard and son Israel Dillard

(Samuel Scott Dillard to arrive in early July)

 Derick Dillard and his late father
(Do you see the resemblance between Derick and Israel?)

Derick Dillard with his parents and brother

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com, theseewaldfamily.com, dillardfamily.com

Visit from the Vuolo In-Laws

Last weekend, Jeremy's parents, Chuck and Diana Vuolo, visited Laredo and attended the Vuolos' church, Grace Community. Chuck, who is also a pastor, preached a sermon.

Chuck and Diana Vuolo with Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo
(Standing in front of Jeremy's church)

Photo courtesy jingerandjeremy.com

Joy and Austin's Vows

During their wedding celebration on the evening of May 26th, Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth each read their own vows from a piece of paper. We know many of you will be interested to read their heartfelt words, so we have pasted them below.

Austin's Vows
“Joy, I love you, and I know that this love is from God. Because of this, I want to be your husband so that we might serve Jesus Christ together. [Through] all the uncertainties and trials of the present and the future, I promise to guide and protect you as Christ does his church, as long as we both shall live. This ring is a token of my unending love.”

Joy's Vows
“Austin, I love you. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise my faithfulness, to follow you through all of life’s journeys as you follow God, that together we may grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ and our home be a praise to him. This ring is a token of my unending love.”

Interested in looking back at the vows of past Duggar brides and their grooms? Follow the links below to earlier blog posts:

Jill and Derick Dillard's vows
Jessa and Ben Seewald's vows
Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo's vows (found towards the bottom of the recap)

Photo courtesy TLC

Duggar Wedding Prep: Groom and Groomsmen

 

There's a lot that goes into planning and executing a wedding, especially one with 1,000 guests. Michelle Duggar's childhood friend Cindy pins boutonnieres on the groom and groomsmen, while Joy-Anna and the bridesmaids get ready separately.

Be sure to check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and BatesFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Duggar Grandchild #2 Turns 6

Wishing Michael Duggar a very happy 6th birthday!

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com, Josh and Anna Duggar, TLC

Joseph Duggar's Proposal (Photos)

Those who watched Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth's wedding special on Monday night saw Joseph Duggar's romantic proposal to Kendra Caldwell. If you were unable to tune in, or if you just want to relive the moment, check out the snapshots below. You'll love the expression of sheer shock on Kendra's face!

At the reception, all the single ladies gather around for the customary bouquet toss, but instead of throwing her bouquet, Joy walks back it back to Kendra Caldwell, the girl with whom Joseph Duggar began a courtship in early March.

Kendra smiles, still unaware of what's about to happen.

Joseph walks over to Kendra, drops down to one knee, and asks her to marry him. Kendra is floored. “Joe!” she exclaims. “I would love to marry you!”

The two share a long hug, as guests clap for the newly engaged couple.

Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth bring Joseph and Kendra up on stage to announce the happy news to those who may not have seen the proposal. 

The four are already close friends, and Kendra shares how neat it is that she and Joseph have always just been one step behind Joy and Austin.

 Joseph Duggar, Kendra Caldwell, Joy-Anna (Duggar) Forsyth, Austin Forsyth

Joy is thrilled for her soon-to-be sister-in-law!

Isn't Kendra's ring beautiful? She almost uncovered the surprise when reaching into Joseph's suit jacket pocket for a mint earlier, but he pulled away just in time.

The couple says they like the idea of a fall wedding.

Photos courtesy Lissa Chandler Photography/DCL

Behind-the-Scenes Wedding Pics

Did you catch last night's season premiere episode? (If not, click here to read our recap.) Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth tied the knot in a beautiful wedding ceremony attended by 1,000 friends and family members.

Renee Miller, the dressmaker who designed wedding gowns for both Jinger Duggar and Joy-Anna Duggar, kindly sent us these photos to share on our blog. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes photos later this season.

Getting ready...

 Friend/wedding coordinator Laura with Joy-Anna Duggar and the Duggar sisters (Jinger Duggar Vuolo, Anna Duggar, Jessa Duggar Seewald, Jana Duggar, Jill Duggar Dillard, and Jennifer Duggar)

 Renee Miller and Kendra Caldwell

Renee Miller with Jessa Seewald and Henry Seewald

 Renee Miller and Erin Bates Paine

Renee Miller and Jinger Vuolo

Bridal party photos...

Joy had sisters, sisters-in-law, and friends (including Carlin Bates and Sierra) in her party

 Jim Bob Duggar with grandson Henry Seewald

 Michelle Duggar

Waiting for the ceremony to begin...

 Flower girl

 Joy-Anna Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar

 Joy-Anna and flower girl

 Bridal party

 Joy and Jim Bob

 Renee Miller and Joy-Anna

 Joy does a quick TLC interview

The happy bride!

Ceremony...

 John-David Duggar leads the congregational hymn

 Both Joy and Austin have tears in their eyes

The parents pray for the bride and groom

Wedding reception...

 The couple's getaway car

Photos courtesy ReneesBridalPensacola.com