Congratulations are in order for one branch of the Duggar family. As People reported, Josh and Anna Duggar have officially welcomed another baby — the couple's fifth — into world! According to the family's blog, Mason Garrett Duggar was born on Sept. 12, weighing in at just over 9 lbs.
The couple announced Anna's fifth pregnancy in March of this year, however, the two have remained relatively silent on social media since, and have only updated their blog and website with family news. Josh and Anna are also parents to 7-year-old Mackynzie, 6-year-old Michael, 4-year-old Marcus, and 2-year-old Meredith. Clearly, the couple is staying on trend with the "M" names, and Mason seems to be fitting right in.
Just over two years ago, the couple was entrenched in a new kind of controversy when it was discovered Josh had confessed to "multiple acts of molestation against his sisters and a family friend," according to In Touch. That was in June of 2015, and now, Josh and Anna are working to "rebuild [their] lives together as a family," according to a family blog post.
And now, as the new family of seven celebrates the birth of little Mason, Josh and Anna seem to be reconciling well, and putting their family first.
According to the family's blog post, both Mason and Anna are in good health, and everyone is adjusting nicely to the new addition:
We are so thankful and happy to announce the arrival of our new son, Mason Garrett Duggar. Both he and Anna are doing well. He arrived today without complication and we already adore him. The entire family is ecstatic over the arrival of another beautiful blessing. We want to thank everyone for your prayers, kind words and well wishes. We appreciate it much more than we could ever express. We pray God blesses each of you with an abundance of the kindness you’ve shown us.
Clearly, the family is ready to move on together and learn and grow from the past. In March of 2016, Josh reportedly returned home to Anna after seven months in "a faith-based rehab facility in Rockford, Illinois, in August following a series of scandals, including his public confession to being addicted to pornography and to being unfaithful to his wife Anna," according to People.
In January of 2016, Anna opened up about the difficulties she was facing while Josh was in rehab, asking fans to "please continue to pray for me, Josh and our children." She explained in their family blog:
Many have asked how I am doing. So many have asked that its actually humbling and touching. 2015 was the most difficult year of my life. Yet, amazingly I’ve found that in my own life crisis God has drawn near to me ("He’s near to the brokenhearted" Psalms 34:18) and my faith has been more precious to me than ever before.
Hopefully, Josh and Anna are continuing to heal and forgive, especially for their children. While fans may miss having more updates from Josh and Anna, it's also important to remember that, while they may be public personalities, they're still humans. And they need their privacy just like the rest of the world.
Josh and Anna, who are both 29, definitely deserve to have some peace and quiet after being in the public eye for so long — especially after just having a new baby and recently having dealt with many difficulties within their family.
Hopefully, little Mason will settle in with his brothers and sisters nicely, and the family can get to work on bonding and relaxing after the craziness that is childbirth.
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