Jill Dillard‘s [non-famous] family members came together over the weekend to celebrate the impending birth of her third child, but it appears that Jill’s famous sisters, in-laws and mother were nowhere to be found during the festivities.
On Monday, the former Counting On star— who is estranged from her father Jim Bob Duggar and other members of her family–posted photos of her baby shower to the Dillard Family Facebook page, thanking her cousin Amy Duggar King and aunt Deanna Duggar— as well as the family of her husband Derick Dillard— for throwing her the shower.
Although Jill has maintained relationships with at least some of her siblings, it appears that her sisters and mother Michelle Duggar were not in attendance for Jill’s shower, which was held at Amy’s home (which is about 20 minutes away from the Duggar Compound).
Jill– who is expecting a baby boy in July— captioned the photos posted to Facebook. (She and Derick are already parents to sons Israel, 7, and Sam, who turns five next month.)
“I feel so loved and more prepared now for baby boy with all the gifts, prayers & blessings by friends and family (+ several who couldn’t attend the party in person) who showered us this weekend in anticipation of our little man’s arrival next month!” she wrote. “Special thanks to the hosts: my MIL Cathy Dillard Byrum, my SIL Deena Dillard, my cousin Amy Rachelle King & my Aunt Deanna Duggar.”
While it’s unclear if at least some of Jill’s family attended, her sister Jessa Duggar Seewald did not, as she posted on Saturday that she chose to attend an art event in nearby Bentonville, Arkansas. (The event was to support big-eyed former Duggar wedding/shower planner Sierra Dominguez.)
Another Duggar Family member who was certainly not there to support Jill was Anna Duggar, who posted on social media earlier in the week that she was going to take a “roadtrip” to visit her “bestie.” (While Anna didn’t specifically say so, it appears that she was going to visit her husband Josh Duggar, who moved to a federal prison last week.)
Jill’s sister Joy Forsyth and sister-in-law Abby Duggar (who is married to Jill’s brother John David) were away on a girls’ trip to Florida at the time of the shower.
It’s not surprising that Michelle and some of the other Duggars did not attend the shower at Amy’s house. Amy and Deanna have been very outspoken since Josh was charged (and later convicted of) receiving child sex abuse materials (CSAM), making it clear that they do not support Josh or his parents, whom they feel lied to them regarding the seriousness of Josh’s crimes, which began when he was a teen.
On Jill and Derick’s baby registry, Jill states that they are “going with a boho/earthy/natural feel for all things baby.”
“Derick, the boys and I couldn’t be more excited to be welcoming our 3rd little man in July!” Jill wrote.
In the photos, all of the décor, food and gifts appear to be in a neutral color scheme. According to the registry, the shower attendees purchased plenty of clothing, breastfeeding supplies and toys for the baby; however, many of the big-ticket items (including a $500+ baby stroller) remain unpurchased.
(Photos: Facebook, Instagram, TLC)
8 Responses
Jill, you and Derick are doing the right thing by distancing yourselves from your “parents.” They USED you for money and free labor, and allowed you to be abused. They are evil. I hope your siblings will come to understand what the cult did to them, too, and they will join you in freedom.
This. I still don’t understand how not even one of them came to this shower. Jeremy publicly shamed J*sh and Jinger could have been there. At least her. She is so shunned by her family and it’s honestly sad. But at least we know this kid will have a normal childhood just like his brothers. So if that is the result of being honest about your feelings, then good on you Jill. (She looks stunning btw)
I can understand wanting to gather and celebrate but what a waste to ask for crap they already have. Do a “diaper shower” if you want a party that much.
It’s been 5 years since their last child so they may have needed a lot of things. I have 2 kids and sold a lot of their baby stuff because I didn’t really have the space for it and could use the money. Baby items also get recalled all the time so it’s possible that even if they did save stuff that it’s now unusable. Also after 2 kids she may have learned what items do and don’t work for her and now knows exactly what she wants. I do see how it seems like a waste though, I wish I had bought more gender neutral big items with my first so I could have saved them, so hopefully that’s why jill went with neutral tones this time.
Honestly I have no issues with multiple celebrations for each child (life is about celebrating), but why do they need the big ticket items again? Don’t they still have a stroller from their last child? ??♀️
Actually now that I think about it… wouldn’t they have literally everything they’d need already? I have tons of totes in my basement full of clothes for if I ever have another child.
Maybe they didn’t have the space. It does seem wasteful though.
I don’t keep up with this family, so what I’m saying might sound dumb. I don’t know what gender her previous babies were, but if they were girls she might not want to walk around with a girly stroller and girly clothes- which *might* be why she’s going for “neutral” tones- so she doesn’t need to change it all again for any other future babies…. maybe?
Also, some baby things, mainly car seats, have expiration dates. Maybe whatever she needs is past its safety date.
I wasn’t able to save anything from my first son, so I donated literally everything. My husband on the other hand, saved EVERYTHING from his first son, so when we had our son we didn’t need any clothes. We just needed the big things (crib, stroller, cars eat, etc). We had a shower because it had been 8 and 10 years since our first boys were born.
Looks like they’re all boys but its been many years since the last one.
Plus with so many sisters having babies, I’m sure items get shuffled between them, especially clothes and strollers.
$500 is a little extreme for a stroller, I think, and obviously I’m not alone in that sentiment as it’s still sitting on the registry.