The Duggar family is buzzing with exciting news! Jana Duggar and her husband, Stephen Wissmann, are getting ready to welcome their first child. The couple shared their joyful announcement on social media.
They posted a joint message on Instagram on Monday, August 18. "We are so excited!" the caption read. "January 2026 will bring a little treasure joining our family. We are counting the days and eagerly awaiting this exciting new chapter in our lives."
Stephen Wissmann and Jana Duggar Jana Duggar/YouTube
The post included several pictures from a sweet maternity shoot. One black and white photo showed the couple sharing a kiss. Jana’s baby bump was clear under her long dress. Another picture showed both of their hands resting on her belly. Jana’s sister, Jill Duggar, quickly commented, "So excited for you guys! ❤️"
Jana and Stephen first met through their families in 2011. They dated on and off for years. Then, they reconnected in early 2024, and things changed.
Jana shared her thoughts with People magazine in August 2024. She remembered thinking, "What are we doing? We still have fun together. We still care a lot about each other." She admitted she was the one who took things slowly. But over time, Stephen’s true character shone through. She noted that he came back, still loved her no matter what, and accepted her large, slightly wild family. "My goodness," she thought, "not many people are up for that. He must genuinely care."
The couple kept their relationship quiet for a while. They got engaged privately in June 2024. Then, they tied the knot in Arkansas in August of the same year. Jana described her wedding as a dream come true. "I think it’s one of those things all girls dream of someday," she said.
She continued, "For me, I felt like, ‘Okay, it’s never going to happen.’ But now I’m starting to get it." She explained that the reality of marriage began to sink in. "And I think, ‘Wow, this really is something I’ve dreamed of.’ To see it come true is amazing and almost hard to believe. It’s a dream come true."
Jana is the oldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. She was on the TLC show ’19 Kids and Counting’ from 2008 to 2015. She also starred in the spin-off series ‘Counting On’ from 2015 to 2020. She had previously shared her doubts about ever settling down.
"Sometimes I think, ‘What’s wrong? Is it me? Do I have a problem?’" she told People. "I know I’ve prayed for this for years and years. Many times, I’ve wondered, ‘What’s the reason? Why can’t I just…?’" She noted that most of her siblings married in their twenties. She felt like "by far, I’m the oldest," and sometimes it was disheartening.
After their wedding, Jana moved from Arkansas to Nebraska to live with Stephen. "He has a small house we bought and have been fixing up and renovating," she shared, adding that it has been fun.
In September 2024, Jana gave a peek into her new married life. She wrote on Instagram, "Happy belated one-month anniversary, @stephenwissmann!" She shared photos of the couple. "Life with you keeps getting better, and I can’t help but smile thinking of all the sweet moments we’ve shared. Cheers to forever!"