Jessa, Ben and Their Brood: Making a (Diaper) Mountain out of a Mold House

[bigskygirl]

She is nearly with the boys 24/7? She does not work, so why not with them almost all day? I understand naps and going to be bed.

[lascuba]

54 minutes ago, DangerousMinds said:

Yep, she was Soooooo defensive when that person simply asked about Bin.

Oh, yeah, Jessa absolutely told on herself and the state of her marriage with that comment. Even considering how temperamental she is, shit must have been (or still be) BAD between her and Ben for her to blow up that way at such a simple, non-snarky question.

About Ben working, I vaguely recall her mentioning a job before that "we're more in love than ever!" incident, and I remembering getting the impression that it was outside the Duggar businesses. If he does have a job independent of JB, I don't blame them for keeping quiet about it. Haters are going to harass the business about employing him, and fans are going to show up and be creepy. Never forget that tween who knocked on Jill and Derick's door to see if Israel had been born yet. 

[Marigold]

3 hours ago, bigskygirl said:

Would Jessa and JB allow him to work for someone who does want to associate with the Duggars because we all know the Duggars are God's answer to the universe.

Ben is my pet fundie @Sew Sumi so I'm going to say that he made a decision all by himself and didn't consult Jim Bob. 😁  Ok, probably not but we all have our dreams. 🙄

[floridamom]

The simple answer to 'the question' should have been that YES, Ben is working an independent job from my father and is doing online college courses. Nothing revealed about where he may be employed but it answers the recurring question.....Does Ben work only for Jim Bob or not? Does the guy have a real, actual- the- world J.O.B. Jessa was, is and always will be a defensive bitch. Ben, I believe, is henpecked and dominated by her. His father truly has failed him.

[GeeGolly]

The Seewald home isn't much bigger than a double-wide. The fact that they put in sliders and a patio slab off the bedroom has me thinking they're not going anywhere. Speaking from experience each additional kid seems to take up triple the space and the walls start closing in.

If I were them I'd move the adults into the small bedroom and put the boys, and eventually Ivy, in the bigger one. 

I remember a video she posted of Henry in some type of pack and play with Spurge playing with him in the living room. Between the mammoth couches and all the toys it already felt claustrophobic. Now they've added a third child and all the accoutrements that comes with her.

Very glad it's not me crammed in there! (and I by no means have a very large home)

[Heathen]

50 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

The Seewald home isn't much bigger than a double-wide. The fact that they put in sliders and a patio slab off the bedroom has me thinking they're not going anywhere. Speaking from experience each additional kid seems to take up triple the space and the walls start closing in.

If I were them I'd move the adults into the small bedroom and put the boys, and eventually Ivy, in the bigger one. 

I remember a video she posted of Henry in some type of pack and play with Spurge playing with him in the living room. Between the mammoth couches and all the toys it already felt claustrophobic. Now they've added a third child and all the accoutrements that comes with her.

Very glad it's not me crammed in there! (and I by no means have a very large home)

Good points, but it probably still feels spacious to Jessa, who spent her early years crammed into a small house with her parents and many more siblings than she has children. 

[GeeGolly]

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

Good points, but it probably still feels spacious to Jessa, who spent her early years crammed into a small house with her parents and many more siblings than she has children. 

True, but Jessa spent much of her life in the TTH cavern. She even had her own bed for a number of years. Just realized that Jessa still spends a large amount of time at the TTH, so maybe the cramped Mold House is fine if she's hardly there.

[xwordfanatik]

14 hours ago, lascuba said:

Oh, yeah, Jessa absolutely told on herself and the state of her marriage with that comment. Even considering how temperamental she is, shit must have been (or still be) BAD between her and Ben for her to blow up that way at such a simple, non-snarky question.

About Ben working, I vaguely recall her mentioning a job before that "we're more in love than ever!" incident, and I remembering getting the impression that it was outside the Duggar businesses. If he does have a job independent of JB, I don't blame them for keeping quiet about it. Haters are going to harass the business about employing him, and fans are going to show up and be creepy. Never forget that tween who knocked on Jill and Derick's door to see if Israel had been born yet. 

I'm not familiar with the last sentence...some fan really did that?

[lascuba]

2 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

I'm not familiar with the last sentence...some fan really did that?

Yes! It was bizarre. She couldn't have been more than 14, and she said she was by their house and decided to knock on the door to see if Jill had had Israel yet. Derick and Jill weren't home but Dan was and consented to take a picture with the delighted girl.

7 hours ago, floridamom said:

The simple answer to 'the question' should have been that YES, Ben is working an independent job from my father and is doing online college courses. Nothing revealed about where he may be employed but it answers the recurring question.....Does Ben work only for Jim Bob or not? Does the guy have a real, actual- the- world J.O.B. Jessa was, is and always will be a defensive bitch. Ben, I believe, is henpecked and dominated by her. His father truly has failed him.

The problem with that is that by answering that question, she's--in her paranoid mind--tacitly admitting that working for JB isn't the best thing ever. 

[kokapetl]

On 5/31/2019 at 1:39 AM, Sew Sumi said:

Oh, Ben, you look so groomed you could do gay porn. 

[drafan]

On 5/30/2019 at 3:54 PM, MamaMax said:

How do we know she had an IV?

She most definitely had an Ivy. That's how she can answer (evade) that question.

[JoanArc]

3 hours ago, kokapetl said:

Oh, Ben, you look so groomed you could do gay porn. 

Jesus really is coming!

She most definitely had an Ivy. That's how she can answer (evade) that question.

Ivy Banana Bag Tubing Duggar Seewald.

[Barb23]

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

[lascuba]

3 hours ago, Barb23 said:

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

I had only heard of those a few years ago and was told they were a common thing in the South (maybe an upper class thing?), though not called "push presents." It was only until people in other parts of the country started doing them that it got mainstream attention wand was given that name. I still have never met anyone who does it.

[Absolom]

My husband did it many decades ago and that was the first I'd heard of it.  Although he didn't call it a push present.  It could to be a problem being original after four or five kids in Duggar size families.

Edited June 2, 2019 by Absolom

[Scarlett45]

4 hours ago, Barb23 said:

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

Some do. I’m an old millennial and I have some friends who received push presents (usually jewelry or a new iPad). My Mom got one 33 yrs ago with me. If you’ve got more than 2-3kids that can get expensive. 

With these mega families a charm bracelet might be nice, add a charm for each child born that the mom can wear. 

[yogi2014L]

7 hours ago, Barb23 said:

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

I kind of got one. My birthday was 2 weeks after I gave birth and I received a very nice and expensive bracelet. Much more expensive than we spend on birthday gifts. 

I fully support push presents. haha :-) I figure it was a nice gesture, having babies is hard work! It was nice ( extra) recognition! 

[QuinnInND]

Push presents? I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting.  🤔 Since I had twins, would I get 2 presents?  😂

[3 is enough]

I always figured that the baby(ies) is(are) the present you get for all that pushing.  😉

[Scarlett45]

2 hours ago, QuinnInND said:

Push presents? I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting.  🤔 Since I had twins, would I get 2 presents?  😂

Yes you would. 

[PikaScrewChu]

Pssssst... isn't it time to change the name of the thread?

[Ohiopirate02]

55 minutes ago, PikaScrewChu said:

Pssssst... isn't it time to change the name of the thread?

I hope not.  I don't want to lose the Hamilton reference.

[PikaScrewChu]

26 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I hope not.  I don't want to lose the Hamilton reference.

Could just add Ivy to the end. Or "the others".

[xwordfanatik]

..."and the rest, here on Gilligan's Isle."

I assume there will be many blessings to come, difficult/dangerous births be damned.

[galaxychaser]

Jess posted a new video on instagram. Henry with bare feet on the gravel playing. I hope he didn’t get his feet cut on the rocks!

[Churchhoney]

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I hope not.  I don't want to lose the Hamilton reference.

Well, they do have a great title.

But maybe another way to look at it is that the Gang at Diaper Mountain have been the beneficiaries of a Judith Viorst reference and a Hamilton reference for a long time now. And they don't merit either. We've elevated them into company that's far above their level....and that they wouldn't appreciate. 

If Jessa continues on her mad dash to produce kids, there's no way any good title that references every kid will last long for their thread. Something on a par with A Series of Unfortunate Events will have to be found (although that seems pretty unbeatable, I must say.) .... (Maybe A Series of Unfortunate Events, Seaweed Edition)

Edited June 3, 2019 by Churchhoney

[ginger90]

2 videos:

[Twopper]

On 5/28/2019 at 5:28 PM, beckie said:

I think poison ivy. That's why I don't like ivy as a name. 

Ha!! I think Ivy, Virginia-- a tiny picturesque town next to Charlottesville.   I like Jane--another "J" name.   I think Jane works better with the last name.  Ivy Seewald sounds a little weird to me, but I am not Jessa or Ben so I didn't get to vote.   In the unlikely event that they are interested, I prefer Jane Seewald.     Sounds like a character in an 18th or 19th century British novel. 

BTW, thanks a lot---now the song "Poison Ivy" will be playing in my brain for the rest of the day.

Edited June 3, 2019 by Twopper

[RedheadZombie]

On 5/30/2019 at 7:24 PM, DangerousMinds said:

If only Jessa would do the same with her hair.

My uncle shaved the beard because his daughter didn’t like it. It did appear later in every northern Illinois winter.  

[RedheadZombie]

On 5/31/2019 at 10:56 AM, Marigold said:

Re: Ben & work

 Jessa hasn't said which makes me think she is embarrassed or maybe MAYBE Ben is keeping something private and off social media???????????????  

I know we wonder how Ben will support his family when the shit show ends but seriously, isn't Ben in school?  He has an Associates degree, which is more than the genetic Duggar males. We suspect they are getting paid for the show. They don't live a lavish life. They are in a house, small, but a house. 

I really think Ben and Jessa will be OK. Not wealthy but I think Ben will come through. Ben is my favorite Duggar BY FAR.  

People like to go on about how superior Jingle’s life is to Jessa, but Jessa seems to live within her means and Jingle (Jeremy) seems to blow money on expensive clothes and other material possessions. 

[galaxychaser]

8 minutes ago, RedheadZombie said:

People like to go on about how superior Jingle’s life is to Jessa, but Jessa seems to live within her means and Jingle (Jeremy) seems to blow money on expensive clothes and other material possessions. 

Jeremy poses for every picture like it’s the cover for GQ.

[Patricia07]

Ben doesn't look happy in any of the Instagram photos that they posted.

[QuinnInND]

[Patricia07]

His eyes look dead in every picture.

[Churchhoney]

42 minutes ago, Patricia07 said:

His eyes look dead in every picture.

Wow. They do. They're making Austin's eyes seem bright and cheery. 

When this whole thing started, he was working on his associate's degree in political science or something. He had a pretty good opinion of himself and his bright future. And he was getting the hot girl with the TeeVee career. His father was writing screeds on the internet protesting any delay in marrying old Bin up, and soon he was honeymooning in Paris and Venice. 

Now five years later he's got three kids to support forever, since they'll get no education to speak of. And whatever he does all day embarrasses someone so much that no one's allowed to say what it is. 

Score, Seewald men! 

Also -- be careful what you wish for. 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Churchhoney

[Lunera]

https://player.theplatform.com/p/FSBKHC/VrEItrAa0jpw/select/media/DvRsIyJeuNcB

New video with Ivy

[Lunera]

Jessa didn't mention any complications during the birth. 

[Temperance]

8 minutes ago, Lunera said:

Jessa didn't mention any complications during the birth. 

Isn't this the name video?

[farmgal4]

4 hours ago, ginger90 said:

2 videos:

He is precious, absolutely precious.  Jessa has some faults but being a poor mother isn’t one of them.  To the person who was worried about Henry cutting his feet on the rocks:  I was raised on a farm, with all of the fun stuff that goes along with farm life.  My sister and I were barefoot 95% of the time during summer break.  Your feet become desensitized and tough when you are barefoot all the time, so rocks and things like that don’t really hurt and don’t cut the skin, so Henry’s feet are safe, I think. 😃

[Lunera]

3 minutes ago, Temperance said:

Isn't this the name video?

Yes.

[Oldernowiser]

He looks forty.

And clinically depressed.

[McManda]

2 hours ago, Patricia07 said:

His eyes look dead in every picture.

Maybe because he has three kids under four and is up all the time with a newborn?

[Oldernowiser]

15 minutes ago, McManda said:

Maybe because he has three kids under four and is up all the time with a newborn?

He’s a Gothard husband. Baby-tendin’ is wimmin’s work.

[MichaelaRae]

Even with TLC makeup, Jessa looks more pale than usual to my eyes. Makes me feel the hemorrhaging scenario is likely. We KNOW Ivy was at the hospital after her birth, but not attached to the clearly visible IV, which means it was almost certainly Jessa (allowing for the possibility that Ivy had it and the pic was post-removal). We know labor was quick - purple baby is still bruised, sweet little thing - and she has a previous history of hemorrhaging. Maybe since the ambulance at the house gave away Spurgeon's "perfect home birth" scenario, they just tossed her into the car and drove there to keep it on the DL and control the narrative.

Edited June 3, 2019 by MichaelaRae

[Temperance]

They'll probably do a longer video/episode all about the birth. This one is just about the name. 

[BitterApple]

When Bin finished his Associate's, he should've immediately transferred those credits to the U of A to get his Bachelor's. He'd be settled into a real career by now instead of doing....whatever it is that he does.

I don't think Bin's a lazy or stupid guy, he just can't make a move without Jessa's permission.

[DangerousMinds]

3 hours ago, Lunera said:

Jessa didn't mention any complications during the birth. 

She is a good liar.

[BitterApple]

42 minutes ago, DangerousMinds said:

She is a good liar.

Video of Jessa lying to a producer about pegging the cameraman with a bagel during an outing to a farm. She doesn't even flinch. When confronted with video evidence, she proceeds to blame Amy:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hTnqiFVzYa0

[irisheyes]

So, she’s had TWO hemorrhages that required emergency transportation to a hospital after birth??  Look, Jessa, I get it. You think God is always gonna look out for you, but, I gotta be honest, sometimes God just lets stupid people suffer their consequences. And, you only get one chance to be wrong. Dead is permanent, and it leaves your little kids without a mom. Is having a home birth worth it?  Cause they won’t really care if you end up dying. 

[Temperance]

On 5/30/2019 at 2:48 PM, Lunera said:

Jessa is wearing the maroon dress she gave birth in. I bet she wanted a quick picture with all the gestating Duggars before she popped the baby out.

This picture was taken at Easter, and Jessa says it's the first picture they took together.  It could just mean that there is another picture after all the babies are born or that the same group took another picture.  There's speculation that there's another picture coming with at least one more Duggar woman in it.