The Duggar clan grows in new season of ‘Counting On’
Bigger is better: Have you ever wanted to live with the Brady Bunch? Felt like your own family is just too small or boring? TLC has the antidote to just such an affliction. “Counting On,” a spinoff of “19 Kids and Counting,” follows some of the Duggar children, now married and living independent lives. Season 3 resumes Monday, Sept. 11, on TLC.
The headlining Duggar children are daughters Jill and Jessa, who are at similar points in their lives: early adulthood, striving for marital bliss and growing their families. Jessa is married to Ben Seewald and has two children: Spurgeon, who is almost 2 years old, and Henry, who is just 7 months. Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, also have two kids: Israel, who is 2 years old, and new baby Samuel, who was born in July.
This season kicks off while Jessa is still pregnant with Samuel, and it chronicles her struggles with pregnancy and the birthing process. She experienced some serious complications during Israel’s birth, so her second pregnancy is full of concern and anticipation.Also featured this season is JoyAnna Duggar, who gets engaged to boyfriend Austin Forsyth, and fans get to watch as they prepare for their wedding.There are several big family events to look forward to this season, with lots of joy and love to go around.
Jessa’s husband, Ben, also comes from a large family.This means his mom, Guinn, has lots of experience with children and babies, so the couples get help with their kids not only from the enormous Duggar clan but from Ben’s family as well. Judging from their parents, I think we can expect
more children from these grown-up Duggars in the near future.
Tune in to TLC Monday, Sept. 11, when “Counting On” returns for the second half of season 3.
New nuclear family: In this family, no one leaves home, even after the grown-up children get married and have their own families. “Meet the Putmans” premieres Monday, Sept. 11, on TLC, airing right after the new episode of “Counting On.”
The new series features one really big, unconventional family headed by Bill and Barb Putman.This weathered couple has been together for 35 years and they still live under one roof with their four children, all of whom are married with children of their own — 12 granddaughters and three grandsons (boy, are they outnumbered!) make up the rest of the Putman crew.
While the arrangement may seem a little insane to some — I cannot imagine moving back into my parents’ home with all my siblings and their families — it’s one that works for all of the Putmans. None of them live there out of necessity; they love living their lives in close proximity.The only downside is the small-ish size of their house (well, it’s small for 25 people, anyway). That’s all about to change, though, as most of the premiere season is centered around the construction of the family’s new 34,500-square-foot home.
The season also features the arrival of the 26th member of the family, and the joyous occasion causes no small stir in the very full house — a happy stir, of course. In a family that shares everying (even a bank account), you can expect to see the Putmans pull together and share the heavy load a new baby can place on the shoulders of its young parents.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the Putmans, though. Patriarch Bill is dealing with some serious health concerns, and while the family is doing its best to rally around him and keep him upbeat, the uncertain future can sometimes weigh people down. With so much going on, this supersized family is anything but boring. “Meet the Putmans” premieres Monday, Sept. 11, on TLC.
Five plus one: TLC really has a thing for big families, and this one includes five toddlers and a little girl. Never in their wildest dreams did Danielle and Adam Busby think that they’d be raising six children, all under the age of 7, but that doesn’t mean they’re not grateful for the joyous challenge. A new episode of “OutDaughtered” airs Tuesday, Sept. 12, on TLC.
Like so many couples before them, the Busbys decided to try fertility treatments after struggling to get pregnant. The procedure helped them conceive their first child, so they decided to try the method again. This time, however, they got not one, but five babies. Having so many children in diapers at once presents a lot of big challenges, but the young family still manages to be as normal and allAmerican as they come.
“We don’t have it all figured out, and we’re OK with admitting that on national television. Showcasing how human we really are has really struck a chord with people, and I think, in a strange way, we’re helping others realize they don’t have to have it all figured out either,” Adam told People. Find out what they’re doing to make their family work when the next episode of “Outdaughtered” airs Tuesday, Sept. 12, on TLC.