By now, you’ve probably heard the news from Northwest Arkansas: Justin Duggar is engaged to Claire Spivey.
Fans only learned about the relationship recently, but already, many of them are asking the same questions:
When are Justin and Claire getting married? Are they getting married so they can pipe as soon as possible?
For the answer, we look to previous Duggar courtships.
As you know, Counting On is basically the reality TV equivalent of Game of Thrones. Follow us here:
On each show, there are four million characters, and it’s often difficult to keep track of who’s doing what … or whom.
The Duggars take a slightly more conservative view on coupling than the residents of Westeros, but think about it:
All the same, courtships, weddings, pregnancies, and births are a big part of what keeps their core audience tuning in.
So here’s a rundown of what some of Jim Bob and Michelle’s kids (including Justin) are up to these days.
Don’t worry – unlike Thrones, the Duggars won’t be leaving your TV screens anytime soon.
Not as long as the females continue to do their job: Making sure Earth’s population growth continues unabated.
Justin and Claire: A New Beginning
For the most part, all Duggar courtships are the same. But in several key ways, Justin and Claire are in uncharted territory.
The Young Ones
For one, they’re very young, even by the standards of a Duggar couple. Claire is 19, and Justin is only 17.
Across State Lines
On top of that, this is an interstate love affair (Claire lives in Amarillo, Texas), and it seems that most of the courting happened remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Freedom!
These days, Justin is living with Claire and her family in Texas – which must be quite frustrating for his older siblings who had to be chaperoned by Jim Bob during their courtships.
The Big Day
Duggar courtships almost always result in marriage, and Justin and Claire are several months into this thing. So it’s not surprising that fans are dying to know when they might tie the knot.
Predicting the Future
Duggar weddings are massive affairs, so the nuptials will likely be delayed as a result of the pandemic. Still, the best way to figure out a timeline for these two is by looking at past Duggar courtships.
The Gang’s All Here
As you’re probably aware, the Duggars are an almost impossibly large family. With the adoption of Tyler Duggar last year, Jim Bob and Michelle’s brood swelled to 20.
The Next Generation
And then there are the grandkids. That number currently sits at 17 for Jim Bob and Michelle.
More on the Way!
Of course, as is usually the case with the Duggars, there are more babies on the way. Jessa Duggar, Jinger and Joy-Anna recently welcomed babies, and there are rumors that at least one more sibling is pregnant right now.
She’s Not Alone!
Joseph Duggar’s wife Kendra welcomed her second child in November. The couple just welcomed their first child in June of 2018.
The Race Is On!
Of course, Josh and Anna Duggar still hold the record for providing Jim Bob and Michelle with the most grand-Duggars.
Aggressive Expansion
The couple welcomed their sixth child in 2019, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be letting up anytime soon.
End of an Era?
But not all of the Duggars seem so eager to follow in Jim Bob and Michelle’s footsteps by raising a massive family. Take Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo, for example.
Bucking the Trend
Jinger waited more than a year to get pregnant after she and Jeremy tied the knot, a first in modern Duggar history.
Heading West
And now, Jeremy and Jinger are headed to LA so that he can focus on obtaining a divinity school degree. Jinger is pregnant with her second these days, but we doubt she’ll ever reach the double digits!
The True Rebel
Then there’s Jana who has yet to marry at 30 — an age at which most Duggars have already birthed a litter.
Keeping Their Own Pace
Jana’s twin brother, John David, is a father of one but he and Abbie Burnett might be welcoming more soon.
Cause For Concern?
But here’s what’s really shocking — prior to Justin, the Duggars went YEARS without a new courtship announcement!
The Numbers
Right now, eight of Jim Bob and Michelle’s kids are married, and they all have children.
A Definite First
But another five of them are over the age of 18 and currently single.
Left Behind?
It’s been rumored that Jedidiah Duggar courted Kendra before Joe did, but the family collectively decided she should marry his older sibling instead.
They Do Things Differently
Yeah, it’s pretty freakin’ weird, but that’s true of many Duggar customs and practices.
Up Next
Fans have speculated that Jason Duggar is soon to announce a courtship, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of evidence to that effect.
A Meaningful Announcement
Of course, if it does happen it’ll be big news. With the exception of Josiah Duggar’s ill-fated relationship with Marjorie Jackson, every Duggar relationship that’s been announced publicly has led to marriage.
Happy Evidence
Josiah later found love with Lauren Swanson. And we’re sure they’ll contribute to the ever-growing Duggar baby pool soon enough.
UPDATE: Anna Is Expecting!
Yes, we now know that Anna Duggar is expecting her sixth child with husband Josh Duggar.
Sharing the News
The couple made the announcement in an Instagram video starring their previous five kids.
UPDATE: Jessa’s Bundle of Joy
Jessa Duggar recently welcomed the newest addition to her family — a daughter named Ivy! Looks like the little lady will have plenty of cousins right around her age to play with!
Josh’s Gender Question
Josh and Anna recently learned the gender of their forthcoming bundle of joy, and while they asked fans to guess the result of their ultrasound, they have yet to make that information public.
A Savage Roasting
Of course, because of Josh’s sex crimes, many followers passed on the opportunity to make a guess and instead urged Anna to take the rest of the kids and flee to a safer environment.
Tragedy Strikes
Sadly, all of the latest developments surrounding the Duggar clan have taken place under the pall of tragedy, as Jim Bob’s mother, Mary Duggar, recently passed away at the age of 73.
The Matriarch
A beloved figure among family and fans, Mary’s greatest joys in life were her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Loving Tributes
Mary’s granddaughters have taken to eulogizing her on social media for their millions of followers.
Living on Through Her Family
The surviving Duggars are all committed to honoring her memory, and we would guess they feel that one the best ways to do so is to continue to create new life.
Namesakes on the Way?
So don’t be surprised of there’s a new Mary in the latest crop of Duggars!
UPDATE, ROUND 2: So Much Baby News!
Folks, be glad you’re not obligated to buy Christmas presents for the Duggar family because it is getting seriously difficult to keep up with this clan! Here’s what we’ve learned in just the past few days:
Bun In the Oven?
First of all, it’s possible that John David Duggar and Abbie Burnett are expecting their second child.
Lagging Behind?
John and Abbie have yet to confirm the news, but he married a bit older than most of his siblings, so perhaps they’re making up for lost time now.
Cat Out of the Bag
On top of that, Jessa remarked on Instagram that several Duggar babies are on their way in the fall and winter. Since all the other expectant moms are due in fall, fans jumped to the conclusion that she was referring to John and Abbie! Bit of a leap, but we’ll take it!
Another Girl!
Moving on to actual, confirmed news, Josh and Anna have revealed that they’re expecting a girl. We probably don’t need to tell you the news received a mixed response from Duggar Nation.
And Another One!
Not to be outdone, Joseph and Kendra revealed that they’re ALSO expecting a little girl. Did the couple intend to steal Josh’s thunder with their timing? We sure hope so!
Couple Controversy
Yes, as always, there’s plenty of controversy in the Duggars’ world. This week saw Austin and Joy-Anna dodging questions that they’re essentially in an arranged marriage.
Forcibly Hitched?
Fans believe Joy and Austin’s fathers decided that they should wed, and the couple had little to no say in the matter. Naturally, no one close to the situation has confirmed or denied any of this.
Jana on the Spot
And of course, we can’t let a week go by without some Jana speculation. The 29-year-old made a vague reference to getting hitched in an Instagram post, and now fans are convinced she’s soon to walk down the aisle. We hate to disappoint, but there’s no real indication she’s met Mr. Right.
Abbie and John David Join the Baby-Making Fray!
“We are on Cloud 9 about welcoming our own little Duggar into the world,†the couple told People Magazine on August 1, 2019.
Interesting Development
This isn’t baby news, exactly, but Derick Dillard recently revealed that he and Jill Duggar use birth control — which is typically a forbidden in the Duggars’ world.
Something Fresh
So we guess we won’t be hearing any baby news from them for a while. Refreshing change of pace!
UPDATE: We Stand Corrected!
Amy Duggar has welcomed her first child! Son Daxton joined the human race in early October.
Lauren Becomes a Mom!
Shortly thereafter, Josiah and Lauren welcomed their “rainbow baby” — a girl, who they christened with the interesting name of Bella Milagro.
More Where That Came From
Not to be outdone, Anna Duggar has become the latest member of her family to welcome a new bundle of joy! She named her new daughter Maryella, after Josh’s late grandmother, Mary.
All Hell Breaks Loose
The final weeks of 2019 saw some major turbulence for the Duggar clan. In fact, it may have been the family’s most significant rough patch since the Josh Duggar sex scandals of 2015.
Hard Times
First, Josh’s place of business was raided by Homeland Security agents. We still don’t know exactly what happened, but you can be sure it’s not a good sign.
A Fight Within the Family
The raid was followed by a Duggar civil war, of sorts, as Derick Dillard launched a feud against Jim Bob that still threatens to bring down the family empire.
Serious Accusations
Derick says none of Jim Bob’s kids were fairly compensated for their work on the family’s reality shows, as the patriarch simply pocketed their earnings.
A Story to Tell
Derick has also threatened to sue TLC, the network that made the family famous. He says he’s currently working on a memoir in which he will elaborate on his allegations.
Back to the Breeding
But through it all, the Duggars remained focused on doing what they do best — making babies.
Welcome, Grace
In January of 2020, newlyweds John David Duggar and Abbie Burnett welcomed their first child, a girl named Grace. They may never reach Jim Bob and Michelle numbers, but we’re sure these two are planning to give their little one a LOT of younger siblings!
UPDATE: Too Many Blessings to Be Stressing!
2020 might not be able to compete with 2019 in terms of the sheer number of Duggars who will be added to the global population, but in terms of breeding, TV’s favorite fundamentalist family is still off to a heck of a start.
Joy For Joy!
In March, Joy-Anna Duggar announced that she was pregnant with her second child.
Rainbow Baby
The news was particularly joyous, as it came on the heels of Joy’s heartbreaking miscarriage.
Celebratory Summer!
Joy and husband Austin Forsyth have informed fans that 2-year-old Gideon’s younger sibling is set to enter the world on August 19.
A Little Jinger In the Oven!
And Joy’s not alone on the Baby Bump Express. Her sister Jinger might be living in LA these days, but the two of them are once again united by being pregnant at the same time!
A Little Sibling For Felicity!
We learned in late May that Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo are expecting their second child. But it turns out she shared the exciting news with her family quite some time ago …
Ginger Jinger
During a Zoom call with the family, during which everyone made gingerbread houses, Jeremy made the reveal with a baby-bumper gingerbread version of Jinger. Adorbs!
Finally!
Fans have been pushing Jinger to give Felicity a little sibling for YEARS, and it looks as though they’ll soon get their wish. We guess now they’ll have to go back to pressuring Jana to get married!
Another One for Joseph and Kendra!
In August 2020, these two announced they were adding to their brood once again. They wrote as confirmation: “We are so excited to announce that we have a tie-breaker coming in February. Baby #3 is on the way! We are so excited to see Garrett and Addison’s reaction when they meet the new baby. Garrett has already been such a loving big brother to Addison and we look forward to Addison’s reaction to a life size baby doll. Life is full of surprises and we’re thrilled that it is a sweet baby that surprises us this time!”