Mackynzie Renée Duggar (born October 8, 2009) is the first child and first daughter of Joshua Duggar and Anna Duggar.
She is the sister of Michael Duggar, Marcus Duggar, Meredith Duggar, Mason Duggar, Maryella Duggar, and Madyson Duggar.
Early life
Mackynzie as a baby
On April 13, 2009, Josh and Anna Duggar announced that they were expecting their first child, due October 2009. As Josh was the only married child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar at the time, this announcement was noteworthy, as the child would be the first grandchild for the couple, whose family was the subject of the reality show 18 Kids and Counting. Josh shared his excitement, saying: "I am very excited and am learning new ways every day that I can be there for my wife.". Their pregnancy announcement was featured on the 18 Kids and Counting episode "Duggars on a Double Date". The episode featured Anna taking a pregnancy test in February 2009 (like she had many times previously in her few months of marriage) and leaving it for Josh to look at the results, saying she didn't want to be disappointed again. Upon finding that the test was positive, Josh shared the news with Anna by saying: "You're going to join the mommy team!". After calling Anna's family to tell them the news, the couple visited Josh's family to share their excitement.
"We are so thrilled about this news", excited grandmother-to-be Michelle Duggar said, "It is so fun to be around Josh and Anna. They are walking on clouds.". "We are really excited about being grandparents", grandfather-to-be Jim Bob Duggar added on. "We think it is really going to be easier than being parents.".
On June 15, 2009, Josh and Anna appeared on the Today Show, where they cut into a cake to learn the gender of their first child. When they cut into the cake, they learned, along with America, that they would be having a girl. Josh spoke on the show about his experiences preparing to be a father, saying: "I think you can prepare only in so many ways, but really just realizing that you're going to be a role model for that child, and be able to be as prepared as you can be to be able to take on that. It's an interesting experience, but I have great parents to look to.". Josh also said that he'd be happy with a small family: "We'd be happy with two or three; I think children are a blessing though, so we're just thankful for the one that God has given us, and we'll take 'em one at a time.". Their gender reveal was featured on the 18 Kids and Counting episode "Oh Duggar Baby! It's a...".
On July 31, 2009, Josh and Anna announced via People Magazine that they had chosen a name for their daughter: Mackynzie Renée Duggar. They also revealed that she was due October 20, 2009. "We won't decide that now", Josh said when asked if all of their children would have names that begin with the letter "M", a tradition his parents used with the letter "J". "We'll take one at a time.". "My favorite part of pregnancy is feeling the baby move and kick", Anna said in the interview. "And, it is so neat watching Josh enjoy the pregnancy and bond with Mackynzie. It has brought our relationship closer together.".
On September 1, 2009, Josh's parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced that they were expecting again. The baby, who would be the couple's nineteenth child, was due to be born after their first grandchild, on March 18, 2010. "My sister and my mother were having babies at the same time, so I have nieces and nephews older than me", Michelle said when asked about this. "It was a great time because we really have close relationships with my nieces and nephews.".
Her birth was announced via People Magazine on October 9, 2009. Mackynzie Renée Duggar was born on October 8, 2009, at her parents' home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She weighed 8 pounds, and was 19 ½ inches long. Josh and Anna had planned on giving birth to Mackynzie in a hospital, but when they learned that her doctor, Dr. Amy Sarver, was out of town, they made the decision to deliver Mackynzie at home instead. Anna gave birth to Mackynzie on the couple's bed. The birth was assisted by a midwife and a doula, as well as Josh's mother Michelle and Josh's eighteen-year-old sister Jill. Her birth was featured on the 18 Kids and Counting episode "First GrandDuggar!". Her first name is in honor of a cousin of Josh's. Her middle name is in honor of Anna's middle name.
In June 2013, Mackynzie and her family moved to Oxon Hill, Maryland, so her father could start a new job working for the Family Research Council, in Washington, D.C..
In the wake of Josh's molestation scandal, the family had to move back to Arkansas. The family was seen moving out of their Oxon Hill, Maryland home on June 9, 2015.
In 2018, Mackynzie, along with her aunts Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie, recorded an album called Happy Heart.
Mackynzie is described as lively, outgoing, creative, loves sewing and crafting, an animated storyteller, having a beautiful voice, sensitive, nurturing, and kind.
Career
Education
Along with her siblings, Mackynzie is currently being homeschooled.
Television
Mackynzie is frequently featured on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting (then named 18 Kids and Counting). Her birth was featured on the episode "First GrandDuggar!".
Mackynzie is frequently featured on the TLC show Counting On.
Wedding involvement
Mackynzie was a flower girl at her aunt Priscilla's wedding to David Waller on February 4, 2012.
She was a flower girl at her aunt Jill's wedding to Derick Dillard on June 21, 2014.
She was a flower girl at her father's cousin Amy's wedding to Dillon King on September 6, 2015.
She was a flower girl at her uncle David's wedding to Hannah Reber on November 19, 2021.
