joanofarch4

Again, sorry to dissent but, along with liking long hair (and just because it's long doesn't mean the ends are "damaged"), I'm not one to worry particularly about what I wear... If I'm decently covered and its relatively clean, I'm good to go. Other things are more important and (unlike Jessa), I don't spend my life obsessing over my reflection in the mirror. I happen to think American women spend way too much time, energy, and money on their appearance and being "stylish," so I can't fault them for this. Maybe I'm a "lost" Duggar, LOL...

Help me, I think I'm falling... In love with Mo...

I think it's gonna be a dead heat between Jill and Aaaaaaanna for the "However Many Kids and Counting" passing of the baton; they both strike me as enjoying the spotlight a little too much.

As I recall, poor Josh didn't even get the DC house he wanted, much less the number of children in it... He seemed all on board for the smaller city place with the much shorter commute, but Anna had to have her isolation out in the 'burbs, driving distance be darned! The kids love having all that space to run around (indoors), according to the storyline... I kind of think they'd like playing with other children! I doubt if it's Josh who's pushing the home-fooling. Anna can't have that, as Kynzie will have to be "mommy's little helper" all day long...

I'm sure his condition makes his back more susceptible to injury - Jen mentioned that they both have characteristic spinal issues - but I wonder if it was really the gym equipment and not constantly lifting that "Tiny Ton," Will... We heard him grunt with the effort each and every time, and we know Jen can't lift him... Assuming they're caring for both kids on their own, that would involve a lot of heavy lifting... I, too, have had sciatica, and I don't know how he stood it all that time! Thankfully, my ruptured disc reabsorbed naturally. And it's not "magical thinking"; nine times out of ten, it does, given time and refraining from any aggravating activities, but it seems he soldiered on.

As I say, I'm not a child development expert, but I am able to cut-and-paste, and what I read suggests to me that Zoey is also lagging: At age three he should have around 1000 words (give or take) and will be a more sophisticated talker. She'll be able to carry on a sustained conversation and adjust her tone, speech patterns, and vocabulary to fit the person she's talking to. For instance, she'll often use simpler words with a peer ("I need go potty") but more complex constructions with you ("I need to go to the bathroom"). She'll also understand simple rules of grammar and use plurals and pronouns correctly. By now, other adults, including strangers, should be able to understand almost everything your child says, which means you won't have to do as much translating."

I didn't say BILL wanted to avoid the family... ;)

Only after they're done parading those kids from stage to stage (inspirational public speaking courtesy of Dave Arnold), and who knows when that will be! Good thing both children turned out to be so "adorable." Charitable cause or educational value (and I cast side-eyes at both of those excuses) or not, no child should be born or adopted with a job to do.

"While I agree that Josh doesn't want more kids, I am not convinced, as some are, that Anna doesn't want an enormous family." Anna has made numerous statements, many of them lately, betraying that she's all on board with having 8 or more kids; I'm not sure why some viewers refuse to acknowledge this, but... It's clear to me, anyway, that she'd love nothing more than to be the next super-uterus... Yes, Josh could get a "sneak" vasectomy (maybe Anna leaves him alone, for a change, while pregnant? I'm not sure), but I think he's too honest and decent a husband to do that, and Anna will never voluntarily limit breeding. As for Josh's health, it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't feeling stressed, depressed, and isolated out there in the 'burbs with just Anna aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the kids for company after the tribe he's used to. Life is harder without extended family around to help with practical matters, once you're used to relying on them, and I believe he truly loves his family. Anna, on the other hand, is in hog-heaven, it's clear to see! Guess the Duggar clan "bugged."

I couldn't agree more that Jen's never-ending rapid-fire speech, using a billion words per sentence, must be completely overwhelming to those two kids who are trying to aquire a new language! If she were less of a... Jen... She would speak slowly, use fewer and simpler words, enunciate clearly, and not raise her voice to nails-on-chalkboard levels when excited ("WOWWW!!!" every five minutes). I get the feeling they've both just given up in the face of all that chattering and giggling! Hopefully Kate (whom we saw in the legislator's office), who knows how to interact with children, will be an encouraging influence in regard to their speech development, which is clearly greatly delayed in BOTH kids. Dave was shown handing Will off to the godfather, Bill's brother. I found it interesting that they planned the three baptisms together (waiting until even the biological child was quite old, by Catholic standards) so as not to have to get together more than once. I thought, when they built that honkin' big house, Bill said he WANTED to get together often?

I can't say I ever had a balloon that could go "bust." Just look at that house they built! And remember: Judy and Jen -- and now Zoey, if we're to believe what they say -- love shopping for shoes! It does sort of turn my stomach that they're obviously capitalizing on America's love affair with those two adopted children. Sorry, I meant the world's ("We ship internationally!"). And if they were truly a class act, they wouldn't be associating themselves with the Honey Boo Boo network. Of ALL the families featured, this one needs that income the least.

Poor man's Raisin Bran is getting all soggy. Mo must be very committed to his goal, whatever it is, to endure this romantic version of waterboarding. Talk about a martyr for the cause!

My theory on the editing is that there isn't a whole lot of episode-worthy material here. It seems almost like a random compilation of snapshots taken whenever they could capture a smile from Will or a quizzical look from Zoey or, of course, a publicity gig like going to Washington to lobby for legislation (not exactly "kids doing normal things" in my book). With multiples who will not be named, you could pretty much just set up a camera and leave the room and we'd have an hour of cute comments and interactions (who can forget "Hannah's underwears" or "I can't see sheep"?). Here, there's sure not a lot of dialogue, even with Zoey who - at age three - should be talking, and not just in monosyllabic responses to Jen's interrogation. So I think they link together whatever useable footage they glean from who knows how many hours and hours of taping to elicit the desired response from the viewers. Or at least that's what it looks like.

Just sayin', some of us women DO like our long hair. It doesn't have to be a Fundi thing or Duggar thing or please-your-man thing, and just because it's long doesn't mean it's horrible or nasty. I realize it's not in style, but not everyone walks in lockstep there. As for Jill, she had that certain glow during the courtship and marriage, but may just be reverting back to form now. She was never a dazzling beauty.

Clearly Anna and Josh aren't as fertile as Michelle and JB -- after all, WHO IS? -- so Anna, whom I find to be disingenuous in general, was doing her best "fiddle-dee-dee" imitation to gloss over the delay with number four. I didn't buy it for a minute! I'm sure she longs for twins as a catch-up measure and certainly for more girls to help out around the house! I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the J-slaves blessed with an extended vacation in DC at some point. Seems the only way these big families work out is to, you know, stay with your big family! I'm sure it was Anna pushing for the move away from "all those activities" (and toward her own spin-off show) and now for 19 kids in order to justify one, as well. Can't have your cake aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand eat it, too, Anna!