From the Editors:
Michelle wants your help naming Baby 19. Leave your baby name suggestions (starting with a "J," of course) in the comments.
Don't forget to tune in for "18 Kids and Counting: First GrandDuggar," Tuesday at 9/8c.
Photo: Scott Enlow
From the Editors:
Josh and Anna welcomed Mackynzie Renee Duggar into the world Oct. 8, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. She weighs 8 lbs. and is 19.5 inches long.
Leave your well wishes for Josh, Anna and the Duggar family in the comments.
Watch Josh and Anna videos.
Tune in to see the newest Duggar on 18 Kids and Counting: First GrandDuggar, Tuesday @ 9/8c.Everyone loves a compliment. We all need to hear praise at some point, and it's truly beneficial for the children. We've learned that children thrive on praise and recognition for a job well done.
In our home, we use Character Qualities to motivate our children, instead of simply flattering them. We'll notice if they show initiative, or demonstrate diligence. By acknowledging these qualities, we're encouraging them to be more responsible, or diligent, or show initiative.
Every quality is something we hope the children display: reverence, sincerity, obedience and truthfulness. There are 49 qualities.
Our local schools also use a character quality program. I've seen them display one quality a week or month, and they focus on that one idea. In our home, we focus on one quality per month, and we talk about how we can demonstrate this to others. The children memorize the ideas, and we talk about why that quality is valuable to others. We use scripture references to reinforce the message.
These character qualities aren't something new. Josh learned these qualities when he was a small child, and now he's going to be a father. All of these qualities helped him become the man he is today, and that's a good thing.
By now you may have heard: we're expecting another baby!
Can you imagine? I thought my baby years might be behind me, but now we've learned we are expecting baby #19 in March!
Right now, I'm feeling sick and tired, which means things are happening! I keep that perspective to get me past that three-month mark.
A lot of women feel different, depending if it's a boy or a girl. For me, it seems with each pregnancy, from about the sixth week to the twelfth week, I feel that nausea and queasy feeling. I keep almonds in my purse, and I don't know if it's the protein, iron, or whatever, but it keeps me going. I might snack on pretzels, and small little bits of protein during the day.
Of course, I am exhausted. So, when the little ones nap, I try to take one, too.
My cravings aren't strange. In the beginning, it's always pickles or lemons, things that are sour or salty. After that, I'm not really interested in anything particular, just concerned with getting enough protein and calcium, so I'll eat more cottage cheese, yogurt and stuff like that. I make a strong effort to eat a balanced, healthy diet, and eat the right snacks.
I'm just thankful. I dont take this experience for granted, ever. I cherish that I have the time and ability to play with my children and be active for them.
I don't take pregnancy for granted, either. I thought we might be done. I was a little sad about it, but I just accepted it was a stage of my life and perhaps God felt my family was complete. I had a very light cycle, and truly thought I was done having children. I took a test, just on a whim. Something made me question it. I told Jim Bob right away, and he was so excited, he couldn't hold it in. We told the children right then, and they were excited, too.
I know Jordyn won't understand. She's only eight months old, and far too little to figure out what is going on. But I think Jennifer will love to see my tummy getting bigger. Last pregnancy, my little guys talked to the baby through my belly button, and I'm sure she'll think that's wonderful!
And Johannah, she
is just tickled. She's all into her babies, and she says this is going to be a girl! I think it's just her wishful thinking.
All of the sudden, it seems the number 18 is lucky for us. I am due on March 18, 2010; Josh and Anna's baby is due on October 18, and our last little one, Jordyn, was born on December 18. Something about that number right now is working for us.
You know, it's funny being pregnant when expecting our first grandchild. If my mom were here, she'd be crying. This is just like my mom and my sister.
My oldest sister Pam was expecting when my mom had me. My nephew and I are 3 months apart, and I have a nephew and a niece older than me! I grew up with my nieces and nephews around all the time, and we were all so close. I wish that for my grandchild and this baby.
Anna is really such a cute pregnant mommy. She has only seven weeks left. They've taken all their classes on natural childbirth and we're just hoping for uneventful, healthy delivery for her, and then for me!
We were blessed with a healthy delivery just eight months ago. Check it out here.
Photo: Scott EnlowPeople often ask about our chore chart. It isn't easy to manage a home with 20 people and keep it in order. But our chore chart helps us give everyone order and guidance.
Everyone in our home has a jurisdiction, or an area where they take responsibility. The chores are obviously age-appropriate. The little guys can still help pick up toys, or clean off a table. They can still contribute to the family, and they do!
I've found the biggest motivator is praise. They love to know that they are helping, especially the little kids. The smaller kids see the older kids getting rewards or being praised and they want to follow. We cheer them on, and tell them how much they are helping. When children receive that kind of praise, they begin to realize the benefits of teamwork. They start to see: "hey, I'm really needed here!" They see the value in their chores and how much the family benefits from their actions.
My little guys have a chore pack: they have five chores in the morning, five in the afternoon, and five in the evening. It can be as simple as putting away toys, brushing their teeth, straightening up their bed, or helping one of the older siblings with their work. They just keep that chore pack on their belts or in their pockets, and it helps them see what they need to do.
It's really cute to see how the older ones help the younger ones, and how the younger children look up to their older siblings. They want to do chores, because their older siblings do. They yearn for the responsibility that the older children have.
At the end of the day, they turn in their chore pack to either myself, or their older buddy, and we mark it on the chart. They get a sticker, and in the end, those stickers become rewards. These days, they all want a little money. They want the dollar to go into the piggy bank. But they need to accomplish a lot of tasks to earn that money, and it's got to be over so many days.
My little guys will get a $1 book or another prize. The thing they love: a small jar of dill pickles! Crazy, right? We're pickle eaters, and it's cute to be able to give them something they love, that isn't candy.
Now, our older children are looking for the bonuses. They go above and beyond and we'll reward that. If they offer to clean the van or mop the garage, we'll give them a few dollars or something to show them the value of hard work and acknowledge their initiative. It's a little extra bonus, and it's a help to both Dad and I.
Photo: Scott Enlow
I think every mom has a story about a child's mess gone wild.
I can remember Josh, my oldest, when he got into the petroleum jelly. That mess took weeks! It was on his hair, his body, even into the bedding. That doesn't come out so easily. He had an incredible hairdo. Thank heaven he was a boy, and it just looked like we spiked his hair. It took so many shampoos to get that one out.
My Jana was an active baby. She was so energetic! She was walking at nine months. One day, I see her walking and something's trailing behind her. Turns out, it was toilet paper, and she brought the entire roll with her around the house. At the time, our home was only 900 square feet, but, you could walk in a perfect circle. She went around a few times with that, before I caught her.
Of course, I had to snap pictures before cleaning any of the messes. I have the Vaseline picture as well. Those are the ones you keep!
We seem to have something everyday. It's usually the little guys, who can't quite reach, but they want to be a part of everything. They try to help, and somehow, everything gets spilled. They want to be big, and be Mommy's helper. I remember one huge can of pineapple that was everywhere in my kitchen. All that sticky juice was on every corner. It's amazing what kind of mess they can get into before they are tall enough to even reach a countertop.
These days, with the older children pitching in, everything is routine. As long as we're all home and doing what we're supposed to be doing, everything is kept clean and in its place. I know the bathrooms aren't always quite as clean as Mom would like them, but my boys try. All the kids do. Mom's version of "good" isn't quite what their version would be, but as long as they keep up with chores, we're ok.
The biggest thing is laundry. Even when we travel, we know that if we're gone more than three days, we need to stop at a laundromat. There's no way to pack clothes for all of us for an extended period of time. So we just have to keep it under control. If we fly, it's always a short trip and we pack light. But we've learned that three days is our maximum, and then we have to schedule some time for wash.
At home, everyone has their area or jurisdiction, and it gets done. The little ones can pick up their toys, and my little ones have their chore packs. My little ones have five chore cards in the morning, five in the afternoon, and five in the evening. They keep those cards with them, and just turn them over as they complete their chores. We reward them, and praise them. It's such a motivation for them, when they know that they will be rewarded. It also sends a strong message that, "Hey, I'm needed here." It's different chores for different ages, but everyone's got to help to keep things going and clean.
Photo: Scott Enlow
