Another duckling added to the flock! Jep and Jessica Robertson are beyond thrilled with the arrival of their adopted newborn son, Jules Augustus. The Duck Dynasty stars opened up about the new addition when they dropped by Us Weekly's New York City headquarters for a video interview on Friday, January 22.
Jep, 37, and Jessica, 35, were also joined by Gus, 4 months, and their four other children — Lily, 13, Merritt, 11, Priscilla, 9, and River, 7. The proud mom joked that she's sleep deprived, but wouldn't have it any other way. After all, she first wanted to adopt three or four years ago.
"I had some health risks, so I wasn’t able to have another child, physically. It was on my heart so heavy," the Louisiana-based star exclusively reveals to Us. "A year and a half ago, Jep came on board. He was like, 'You know what, it’s a God thing. If it’s so heavy on your heart, this is something we need to do.'"
Jessica and Jep Robertson and family.
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Jep adds: "We went to the adoption agency and we said, 'We don’t care what race, what gender. We just want to have a baby, so whatever happens, happens.' So we got us a little Gus."
The road to Gus wasn't easy, though. Jessica called the adoption process an "emotional roller coaster." One adoption fell through and, in a second case, the birth mom changed her mind and wanted an open adoption instead.
"We just felt like for us, a closed adoption was the best thing that fit our family, and just the protection of our kids and even [Gus],” Jessica says. "But [the process is] so worth it. We recommend it. It’s not the easiest journey, but it’s definitely worth it in the end."
Jessica and Jep Robertson and family.
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So much so, the stars are already thinking about baby No. 6. "You never know," Jep teases. Jessica chimes in, "We would be open."
They are also open to Gus working at the duck-call family business. "That’s what Willie [Robertson] wants him to do!" Jep says.
"We’ll see if he’s gonna grow a beard," Jessica jokes.
Jep and Jessica: Growing the Dynasty airs on A&E Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST.
Jessica and Jep Robertson and family.
For more, watch the video above!
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