Awesome news from the Duggar family of Arkansas today, and also the same family from the TV show “18 Kids and Counting!”: Michelle Duggar is expecting baby #19 in spring 2010!

Jim-Bob and Michelle Duggar’s oldest son Joshua, and his wife Anna, are expecting the couple’s first grandchild (Mackynzie Renée) in October.

I’m a huge fan of the Duggar’s and I’m very happy for them and their family with the expected blessing of another baby.

Watch the video announcement

The Duggars: 20 and Counting! By Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar / Howard Books Take a close inside look at the supersize Duggar family (18 children plus parents)! Since their first documentary on the Discovery Health Network, viewers have been fascinated with the story of this couple’s faith and belief that children are a blessing from God. Their first book, The Duggars: 20 and Counting, is an inspiring and entertaining collection of stories, photos, recipes, tips, traditions, and practical ideas designed to answer the questions of the curious. Some of the questions they answer are “Why do you have so many children?”, “How do you provide for your family financially?”, “How do you handle mealtimes…transportation… laundry…birthdays?”, “How are your children so well behaved?”, and “Why do all your children have names that begin with J?”. Adopt a few ideas from the Duggars and improve the peace and love inside the walls of your own home. Paperback.

The first year of your baby’s life can be the hardest, happiest, scariest and best year you get to experience with your child. You are going to experience so many emotions during the baby’s first year! Luckily there are baby books about every aspect of baby’s first year, and reading several books while pregnant, as well as during baby’s fist year will make you more comfortable around your little one.

Everyone is always concerned with the next milestone that their new baby is going to reach and if he or she is doing things at the same pace of their piers. In fact many new moms focus so much on what everyone says their child should be doing that they seem to lose focus on what the child is doing.

Then years later, you may look back and wonder what happened to that cute, cuddly baby you once had. While you were looking ahead, he or she was growing up and before you knew it that magical first year of their life was gone. It starts out kind of stressful, with the new parents not knowing what to expect next: from sleepless nights, colic, and spitting up to growth spurts, there is never a dull moment or a time to relax.

Before you know it those first few months are gone and your baby is sitting up, crawling and finally walking. He or she is talking or trying to and eating real food. The best advice I got when I brought my babies home was to slow down, to stop looking ahead of what comes next and to enjoy what the baby was going through at this time. You can never go back and get these moments again. So, instead of looking to what your child should be doing, could be doing or what is next, live in what is now and keep a record of it, for you and for your child. And enjoy motherhood!