By MELISSA NELSON
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

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. He said Johannah's birth was especially exciting because it was the first time in eight years the family has had a girl.

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.

The Discovery Health Channel filmed Johannah's birth and plans to air a show about the family of 18 next 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 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 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; and Jackson Levi, 1.

Posted by TamInAz

I keep missing the shows on them :( My dc want us to catch up with them but at 44 I'll be lucky if God blesses us with 1 or 2 more.

Have a great day with your family!

Blessings,
Tam

Posted by Anonymous

I saw the first program and was intrigued. I have a cousin who has 12 children and it is always such a pleasure to visit with them. The Dugger children seem very happy and well adjusted children.

I believe they are all very blessed to have one another. I am looking forward to updates on the family.

KvK

Posted by Danielle

I think the Dugger's are a complete inspiration! I have two sons and another on the way and if I could organise my home and family half as well as they do I'd be pleased! I'm really happy for them and their new baby girl.

Posted by Anonymous

I have to tell you I saw the TLC channel last night about the Duggers and it was a very impressive story about these kids and their family.. In all 18..WOW.. I hope to God that one day i will be able to have lots of kids. I just wanted to post a comment and say that I loved the story and I hope to the Lord that if she wants to keep having babies and then press on.. te hee hhe.. LOL. Well toodles.

Yvonne

Posted by Anonymous

Freaks.

Posted by Anonymous

How were they able to do this financially?

Posted by Anonymous

I still can't believe these people are real.

Ever heard of adoption?

Posted by Anonymous

What's the "ecological footprint" of the average consumerism-crazed American?

Posted by Anonymous

It amazes me how many people are critical of this family. I've heard comments about the finances, and the number of kids, publicity, etc. If you watch the special (and have seen the subsequent specials), and LISTEN, you will find that these people have NO DEBT. They have been very wise with their money, and they aren't living off the gov't. They have worked very hard and been very frugal to get where they are.

As far as adoption~I'm sure if God called them to adopt they would be obedient in that...but so far they are obeying the Word of God in being fruitful and multifplying and raising a Godly army! Who can find fault with that??

Posted by Anonymous

Congradulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless the Duggar family.

Posted by Lena Rochester, AL

I am so inspired by the Dugger Family! I belive it's so great they are being obedient to God by being FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLYING!!!!!! god bless the Dugger's. I just gave birth to my first child, and my husband and I want to have as many as Jesus wants to give us. CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD. why prevent or turn down a gift from God? go Dugger's!!!!!

Posted by Anonymous

It's so great they love thier shildren, because most people would just live off of others! GO DUGGERS!

Posted by Anonymous

While I am glad that our government does not dictate how many children we can have, I believe that it is my responsibility to procreate responsibly for the sake of our world's limited resources. I think it is morally reprehensible to have so many children. Think of how many children they could have saved from terrible situations by adopting. It seems a form of egotism to me to want to have so many descendents, and it smacks of little understanding of the state our world is in.

Posted by Anonymous

I saw the show once, then preveiws, lost interest, Having as many kids as they have had on the air, for what ? must be money, otherwise not financily feesable for most people, is A&E building them a new home to keep them on the air, this wont last, its ridiculas,

Posted by Anonymous

Just think, all those lovely Dugger children growing up, getting jobs and paying for YOUR social security checks. Those who are ciritical need to ask them selves if they value freedom for all or only their version of it.

OrigamiMommi

Posted by Anonymous

The two of you are sick! The two of you are not responsibile people. You mom have children so that the other children can take of. What is your roll in the family, baby factory? So you have these children and home school them. Why? They only have your values and beliefs. You totally influence them, they have no outside involvement with other children their own age or out of your circle of friends. This is not a socially healthy environment for children. Send they to public school or are you afraid that they will be teased, laughed at or ridiculed. Mom go get a hair cut you need one! Your hair makes you look old , I mean old!!!! One last thought STOP having children before you die of cancer.

Posted by Daeson

People should enjoy life, be financially responsible, take care of family and give to community in all the ways you are called to. They are an example to others how to work at what you need to so that you can provide for yourself, your spouse and your family and be able to help others. Go to the laundrymat. stop by the neighborhood resturants for emergency bathroom use.

Posted by Daeson

How can people make comments with only their opinion? I pray that the duggars disreguard any comments that have not been thought through and pray about all people who do comment. Someone who grew up with only one or two brothers and or sisters have no idea why or how a person could have a larger family than they have grown up with. Big familys can be a blessing or if someone doesn't show any care for their kids it can be a curse. I wonder what the comments would be if there was an inner-city family of 16 or so , I mean in small apartments, many kids boyfriends or girlfriends with kids, no real job or a small cover job maybe at UPS with gambling or drug selling to provide for the many kids a guy might have in a 'gang' many girls or a girl with many guys taking the pill every day while having sex every day. Such lifestyles like the one I explained has mch more troubling effects and causes the problems of kids who need adoption. The Duggars are doing this the right way. This also is unlike the polygamists Warren Jeffs.
I believe the Duggars could bring a pastor over to their house and hold church.

Posted by Anonymous

For those of you that are not Christians you will have no idea what "Doing the Will of the Lord" is. The Duggers don't go around preaching at people telling them they have to have a large family to get to Heaven. I have only heard them say that it was what the Lord wanted THEM to do. By the way, the Duggers are millionares, they own lots of real estate property, Mr Dugger doesn't have to be gone all day. They look very happy, they live a simple life, the kids are not uneducated. How many of you can play the violin or piano? How of you have 15 kids that can? On one of the channels on TV I once saw a show called "My sweet sixteen" well parents are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on birthday parties for thier kids and no one seems to mind, but you have someone who wants a large family and BAM! They are ruining the whole world with over population. Believe me, with Bush approving the morning after pill, you will see a decrease in the birth rate. Isn't France giving out tax credits for having kids because so many people are choosing 1 or no kids? How about Germany? Wasn't there a new report somewhere that said it's death rate was higher than its birth rate??? Some people don't like children, some do. Just leave them alone to do as they please. If the government can't force you to have children then it can't force you to stop.

Posted by Anonymous

I give them kudos for not living off of government money, and from the programs I have seen they are trying their best, but I am amazed to see that there are others posting comments in here saying about how they wish to have a family like the Duggers and even mentioning that its god will. First off obviously not every american can continuely breed their entire life every child from infancy to age 18 costs 250k. Secondly do you not realize the developmental disorders that can occur in households such as these? With 16 children the parents can not give their children the individual attention that each child craves and needs. Its wonderful to see that the older children are helping with rearing the younger ones but they should never have to take the place of the mother and father, which sadly they are UNFAIRLY forced to do.
I realize that it is in their religious views that God wants us to go forth and have as many children as we can, but I assure you that God would not want us to follow his plans with disregard for our childrens safety.
Just because you can carry and give birth to a child does not mean that you should be a parent.

Posted by Anonymous

I have been married from the age of 16 to a pastor 18 years my senior. I am a dedicatd christian and have been brought up in a family of 14 children, I, the second eldest.I would have done anything to have more siblings as GOD intended, yet my mother didn't start conceiving early enough. I became pregnant three days after i was married (as early as possible) and was overjoyed at the prospect of a child. I am now 30 and have 11 children. My husband is a dedicated father and all of my children are home- schooled. I am currently trying to conceive and hope for many more children in the future. I just hope The LORD has intended it that way. I have great admiration for the Dugger Family and as far as i'm concerned, have as many children as The LORD GOD intended, and if protection is used, this is defiance to HIM and you will be punished. Peace and GOD Bless, Virginnia

Posted by Anonymous

Seems they are selfish people, not considering anything but their love for 'god', and using it as an excuse not to use birth control. Not to mention child abuse by removing individuality and one-on-one time with parents, which all children need for healthy personal development, It seems unnatural. Another bunch of christians on this earth that do whatever and let everyone else pick up their slack, because' god meant it to be that way'

Posted by Anonymous

I have just seen the Duggers show, like a car crash I couldn't look away. I am a nutritionist, and was shocked at the un-nutritional food they consume, the junk food has a lot of packaging that is bad for our environment also.

They said their mantra was God first, then family, then themselves as individuals, they seem to be contradictiong themselves, but regardless of the contradiction, this sounds like a family scale of crowd control, just like organised religions form of crowd control. If everybody just did what they wanted, and called it the will of God, we would have another Jonestown on our hands, albeit on a global scale.

They said the kids don;t mind, not only are they having their childhood taken away from them, and not gaining proper social skills, but children like to do what they are told by their parents, and to please their parents, so of course they wouldn't mind.

It worries me that these people are out there, even more scary is that they justify themselves. I am glad they are not on welfare, but they are taking welfare by relying on the good will of others, in the form of donations, other peoples time, resources, and skills.

I feel for those kids, fgrowing up in a reak show

I also read the post saying this women was 16 when she married someone 18 years her senior, who was a church man. In Australia, where I live, this is a criminal act. I hope people break free from the brainwashing.

Posted by Anonymous

I am one of 10 children...I have 9 brothers..Organisation and love is the answer..we wouldn't want it any other way
Maura McGillivan

Posted by Anonymous

I have 11 children. I say good on them and God bless the Duggars.To all of you who dont approve or think it silly well I think you are too selfish and lazy to bring up more than 1 child.Maybe if we had 1 of your children we wouldnt want any more either.
God blesses large families.My children have everything we've never had to go without anything, God always provides.

Posted by Anonymous

I see so many people saying mean things and calling your parenting skills everything short of being a cult. I think if more more parents stopped name calling and looked at the difference between your kids and thiers they would be ashamed, your children are clean ,healthy, well mannered and serving of our lord and i bet there aren't many parents who can HONESTLY say that. I am a single 30 yr old mom of two and i can only pray to have the faith and parenting skills you and your husband have and to give my kids as good of values as you give your children . God Bless

Posted by Anonymous

I've been following the family on the t.v. shows. I only wish I was surrounded by that many children in a loving family. I think Michele is a wonderful mother and I only hope that one day I can instill the same morality in my 4 children. I wish she could speak more in the public to other mothers and pass on her wisdom. I would do anything to listen to her at a conference or convention. Someone needs to invite her to write a book.
p.s I would like to address the people that keep thinking this family is like a "cult". If you go to the Discovery Channel website, please read closely to the children's intros. They talk about their goals and likes/dislikes. As you will read, they are completely diffrent individuals.
I am thankful their are families like this in the world. It out weighs some of the disfunctional ones.

Posted by Anonymous

The more kids you have, the less emotional, intellectual, and psychological development takes place in a growing child. I really feel sorry for these kids having to grow up in a cult. They aren't allowed any individual freedom, and they're all dressed the same. They're also extremely sheltered, and I can only imagine what is going to happen when they get out in the real world. Just wait until they go to college (If their parents let them.)

Posted by Anonymous

I agree with a lot of the posts on here. They are being very selfish. There are children dieing in orphanages around the world and these two keep cranking out more. They claim to be follow divine guidance but whatever happened to helping those in need, like children without parents.
But none the less, let the sins of the parents not be visited upon the children. I hope that one day the children go out and find truths and not continue on their parents selfish path. They may think they have a little garden of eden going, but what will happen to the children when they leave the confines of the house to join the real world?
Plus with so many children, she and him cannot honestly expect to be raising them each them selves. No the older children are raising the younger siblings. Thats great, lets just turn them into young mothers and fathers for the babies. I just dont understand how they could be such a selfish pair.

Posted by Anonymous

I am not religious or a christian, and I do not think that all people should have lots of children. But watched the Duggers on TV and I think it is wonderful that they are raising such happy children. I see plenty of families with only 1 or 2 children and their children get no quality time and have no responsibility and hate their lives anyways. But it seems to me the Duggers give their children one on one attention and I don't think it is wrong to have the older children help the younger children. As someone who has worked taking care of disabled children from the age of 16, I think the only thing it took away from my "normal childhood " is the ignorance that the meaning of life is to be a consumer and to try to party as much as possible and get boyfriends, which is what it seems like most of my peers live their life for. But generally I am just as happy as they are, or even happier, but also contributing to society. I know the Dugger children will be good people, and will never be a burden on society. I think more people who are incompetent parents, such as Brittany spears should stop having children and the competent parents such as the Duggars should have more. Lets fill the world with people who have good ethics and are self sufficient.

Posted by Anonymous

I was amazed by the negative comments I have been reading about the Dugger family. My husband was reared in a very large family. His father died when he was a small child and his mother struggled to make ends meet after his death. All of the children in the family helped their mother by assuming responsibilities beyond their years. Today I would have to say that my husband and his family are the finest people I have ever known. They are high achievers, having succeeded in business, and they are devoted to their families. They are loving, caring people who are responsible citizens, contributing in many ways to our society and the care of others.
They were never in trouble with the law and not one of them has ever walked out on their family. I think that the reason people criticize the Duggers is because they are ignorant of the benefits a large family environment offers. What I observe in many small families today are selfish, spoiled children who are herded into day care centers where they are raised by strangers. I wouldn't call that nurturing. Drug addiction is rampant in our country so perhaps we could learn alot from large, loving families. And one more thing, for all of you who rant and rave about the poor orphans who are starving to death, why don't you adopt one of them, or would that cause your family to be too big?

Posted by Anonymous

I just heard she is cranking another one out. Wtf? With our country currently experiencing a world wide food crisis they procreate?!? Yes, it is selfish and it is cult like. I too would like to know how on his meager income they are financially able to meet ends meet without government help. Someone mentioned social security. I certainly hope that is not your retirement plan. Lol. They disgust me to the core. Especially with so many children in orphanages world wide. Do something that g-d would be endorse. Give an orphan a home.