‘Counting On’ Stars Joseph & Kendra Duggar Are Expecting Their First Child

“I mean…you guys KNEW this announcement was coming, right?”

Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell have had a whirlwind of a year; the couple began courting in March, became engaged in May, and got married in September. In true Duggar Family fashion, though, the newlyweds are cramming one more major milestone into a single year: parenthood.

The Counting On stars announced on Monday that they are expecting their first child.

We’ll give you a moment to recover from the shock…

“I’ve always dreamed of having my own family and it’s really just kind of surreal that it’s actually here,” 22-year-old Joseph told People magazine.

“The biggest piece of advice I’ve gotten is just to get lots of sleep,” his 19-year-old bride, Kendra, tells the camera in the TLC announcement video.

The couple tossed around what the baby will be like. While Joseph feels that it will be a boy, Kendra reminds him that there’s also a possibility it could be a girl.

“You never know,” she says.

Once we cleared that up, the couple reminded their fans to watch their pregnancy on ‘Counting On.’ While TLC has yet to officially confirm that a new season of the show is coming, the Duggars & Co. have been spotted filming for the show in recent months.

Joseph and Kendra’s baby will be the 11th grandchild for Joseph’s parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Joseph’s oldest brother, Josh and his wife Anna have five children; while his older sister Jill and her husband Derick Dillard have two. Joe’s older sis Jessa and her husband Ben Seewald have two. Joseph’s younger sister, Joy-Anna and her husband Austin Forsyth are also expecting. (Joy got pregnant almost immediately after her wedding in May.)

Joseph’s older sister Jinger got married in November 2016 but she and her husband Jeremy Vuolo are still enjoying married life without children. Jinger is the only Duggar kid to make it to her first wedding anniversary without announcing a pregnancy.

Oddly, the Duggar kids have yet to congratulate Joseph and Kendra via social media (and/or awkward TLC videos) like they usually do when a Duggar announces a pregnancy. So far, the only person in the family to send their well wishes via social media has been Derick.

“Congratulations to Joe and Kendra on expecting your first child! Y’all will make awesome parents, and Israel and Sam are always up/down for some new cousins!” Derick wrote on Twitter. (Baby Duggar will not be sharing ‘Counting On’ screen time with his Uncle Derick, as TLC recently announced that Derick will no longer appear on the show.)

The Duggar family did post a message to their official website, however.

“We are so excited for Joe and Kendra! Children are a blessing from the Lord and we can’t wait to meet this little one!”

Watch Joe and Kendra’s announcement video below. To read The Ashley‘s recap of Joe and Kendra’s wedding special, click here!

(Photo: TLC)

33 Responses


  1. Shame on the parents. Getting narrated at 19 is stupid enough then two months later voluntarily becoming pregnant? Kendra was just a baby herself at home and she just threw away so much freedom. These people can have all the sex they want but use protection of some sort you idiots ??‍♀️


    1. What freedom do you think she gave up exactly? In their world, you are your father’s property until you become your husband’s. No freedom involved.


  2. And Jana is praying ‘Dear Jesus, please let Kendra have a good pregnancy and natural birth. Wispering: otherwise I will have to help out in yet another household for months.’


    1. No kidding. Ho-hum.

      All this poor girl has to look forward to is endless babies for the next 25 years. Do any of these people work? Oh I forgot, they’ll get “love offerings” up the ass, from their “fans.” Bleh.


    1. I did, but I was 23 (almost 24). Then I got pregnant again when that one wasn’t even three months old. Now that one is three and a half months old and I’m TERRIFIED of getting pregnant again. So, basically, I lost my virginity two years ago and now have two children and have spent a total of less than six months not pregnant.


      1. That’s… pretty crazy.
        Might I suggest the Natural Cycles app?
        If you aren’t wanting to use birth control you can at least understand your body and when you can and cannot get pregnant.


  3. She’s so young and technically her parents can still have another one. I know that we shouldn’t feel sorry for them considering their hateful views but I can’t help to think she has no choice and will be a breeder for the rest of her life. I know that’s prob what she wants cuz she was made to think only about being a wife and mother.
    (Ps. I don’t condemn young mothers or stay-at-home moms but you had a choice. She doesn’t.)


  4. Oh my gosh I am sooo surprised!! ?? In other news, Kendra was finally allowed off her back and resumed her kitchen duties. ?


    1. Tbh, that credit needs to go to her husband. Even tho she is acting different than her family members by wearing pants, not getting knocked up yet etc. I’m sure she still sees him as the head of the household like everyone else so I’m sure it’s mostly on him and in contrary to Derick he knows what a condom is and knows how to use it.


      1. I agree. Jeremy wasn’t raised in this cult that the Duggars and most of the other spouses were raised in. If Jinger had married another Gothardite, she’d have a baby by now and would probably be working on #2.


      2. I agree. I think Jinger does see Jeremy as the head of household but I think Jeremy was raised in a more traditional home environment so it’s not the same as being under the rule of her father. However, I do believe that Jessa wears the pants in her family. I don’t even think Ben knows how to put them on!

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