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Surprising news out of Arkansas today, as Joy-Anna Duggar, 19, has revealed that she is pregnant with her first child!

Joy-Anna married Austin Forsyth in May, and the couple made their big announcement in a statement issued this morning.

Joy-Anna shared the news with a clever photo that shows her holding an ice cream bowl emblazoned with the words "Eating for two!"

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“We’re so happy and thankful to announce that we’re expecting a baby!” Joy-Anna tells People magazine, the family’s unofficial publication.

“Every child is such a precious gift from God."

"I’m most looking forward to watching Austin as a dad and raising children together with him,” she said of her 23-year-old spouse.

While it’s customary for Duggar women to get pregnant soon after getting married, many believed that Joy-Anna and Austin would hold off.

Not for that long, but longer than her older sisters did. Joy-Anna, as we said, is still a teenager. But that wasn’t the only factor.

The couple’s jet-setting European honeymoon prompted reports that she and Austin planned to travel extensively and possibly perform missionary work abroad before starting a family.

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Adding to the surprise is the fact that a new season of the Duggars’ reality show, Counting On, premieres on September 11.

Pregnancy announcements equal big ratings for the Duggars, but it seems Joy-Anna and Austin simply couldn’t keep their excitement to themselves.

In her interview with People, Joy-Anna stated that she’s been looking forward to motherhood since she was a child herself.

“I have a lot of good memories of my mom teaching us and the quality time we spent together," she tells the outlet.

"I’m really looking forward to doing that with my own children. It’s such an amazing thing to be a parent and raise children." 

As for Austin, he says he’s eager not only for the joys of fatherhood, but also for the privilege of supporting Joy-Anna during her pregnancy.

Austin and Joy Pre-Wedding
(TLC)

“I’m really looking forward to the journey of this pregnancy and all the different stages it will bring,” he says. "We are beyond thankful!”

“It’s really exciting and I feel so blessed to be a dad!

Asked how large of a family they’d like to have, Joy-Anna and Austin tell People that there’s a chance they’ll follow in her parents’ footsteps.

In other words, breed and raise an absolutely massive brood of their own. Lest you forget, Joy is one of 19 children of Jim Bob and Michelle.

Nineteen.

“We want as many as the Lord thinks we can handle,” Joy-Anna says, unambiguously. “And we are putting it into his hands.”

Joy-Anna and Austin PDA on Counting On
(TLC)

More likely, it’s in Austin’s hands – Forsyth controlling Joy has been a recurring topic of discussion since the two first got together.

(Jinger Duggar’s style revolution and relatively liberal lifestyle in Texas has further shined a spotlight on Joy’s marriage to Austin.)

Whatever fans think of her husband, Joy certainly seems like she’s over the moon, and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

No word on how far along the expectant mom is or when Joy-Anna is due, but we’ll keep you posted as that information becomes available.

Our heartfelt congratulations go out to Joy-Anna and Austin on their joyous news – the first of many such announcements, we’re imagining.

As always, you can follow the link to watch Counting On online to relive the young couple’s romantic adventure together.