The Schwandt family of Western Michigan was making headlines when their “starting line-up” started to become a whole team.
Now, they’ve made the news again for a different (yet-not-so-different) reason.
They’re breaking tradition, societally and personally.
But that’s nothing new. In the 21st century, the sheer size of their current family already shatters the social norm, and they do it beautifully with their 14 boys.
Now, they’re on lucky number 15.
After 15 tries, Kateri and Jay Schwandt’s wish has finally come true. After giving birth to fourteen, yes, fourteen boys, they were finally having a baby girl.
Kateri and Jay have been on a remarkable journey to welcome their first daughter.
After the birth of their first son, Tyler, the Schwandts went on to have 13 more boys: Zach, Drew, Brandon, Tommy, Vinny, Calvan, Gabe, Wesley, Charlie, Luke, Tucker, Francisco, and Finley.
Now, their mother won’t be the only one lending a tinge of femininity with the arrival of Maggie Jayne.
“My parents were finally blessed with the little girl they never thought they’d end up having,” Tyler Schwandt, 28, said to the Detroit Free Press.
“It’s been about 12 hours since my dad told us, and I still haven’t quite wrapped my mind around it.”
With the pattern broken, new habits must be established.
Tyler shared that he didn’t think his parents were entirely prepared. Having 14 boys before Maggie, the couple wasn’t even prepared with a list of girl names since they didn’t have to use any.
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Their live-streaming program, “14 Outdoorsmen,” may even require a name change to reflect their growing family accurately.
New colors have come, too.
In the Schwandt household, pink has been an uncommon sight. Moreover, Tyler also shared that he might have to remind the boys to always keep the toilet seat down.
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The house has been filled with boys for so long that they haven’t had to consider what it’s like to have a girl in their midst.
Nonetheless, the couple is beyond excited.
“We are overjoyed and beyond excited to add Maggie Jayne to our family.” Jay expressed his overwhelming joy and excitement, “This year has been memorable in so many ways, for so many reasons, but Maggie is the greatest gift we could ever imagine.”
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For years, the Schwandt family captivated the attention of news organizations, with everyone wondering if the next arrival would finally bring a sister for the boys.
Kateri had once confessed that they would go into shock if she got a daughter instead of a son.
Well, color her shocked. I mean, pink.
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Jay, on the other hand, eagerly anticipated the transformative impact a little girl would have on their mostly male household.
The couple started dating as freshmen.
Jay attended Gaylord High School while Kateri attended the nearby Gaylord St. Mary’s. They were married in 1993. They had three sons before they graduated.
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But raising a family this big certainly has so much pressure to work harder and dream bigger. Kateri earned her master’s degree in social work while Jay got a law degree.
Speaking of pressure, the boys would need to step up if they want to go near Maggie.
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Kateri said that if they had a little girl, she’d be “the most spoiled and protected child her entire life, especially during her teenage years.”
Imagine going through an entire wall of big brothers. That’s not even counting Jay!
Watch how this little baby girl broke the streak of the “all-boys” tradition in the video below!
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