Recap: "Best Bates Moments"

On this New Year’s Eve special, the Bates review the best moments from the first two seasons of their show.

• On Valentine’s Day, Zach surprises his wife by arranging to have “Three Nice Guys,” an acapella quartet, stop by to perform two love songs. 
• Alyssa announces her pregnancy to the family with a shirt that says “Bun in the Oven.” 
• Erin and Chad share their pregnancy news with Gil and Kelly during a double date. 
• While Mom and Dad are away, Erin and Chad and the kids remodel the master suite. 
• Kelly and the children throw a surprise 50^th birthday party for Gil, to which they invite friends he hasn't seen in many years. The kids give speeches and perform skits that bring their dad to tears. 
• The Bates travel down to Florida and crowd into Alyssa and John’s tiny house.
• While helping Zach finish Bradley’s nursery, Gil reminds his oldest son that “Bradley and Whitney are more important than anything else you’re trying to do.”
• To celebrate Carlin's entry into womanhood, Gil and Kelly take their fifth oldest daughter out for a dinner date. Carlin is overjoyed when her parents give her a beautiful purity ring. 
• The older boys attempt to take over their younger brothers' fort using air-soft guns, but they don’t end up succeeding.
• The Bates make memories on a family camping trip.
• Gil and the kids convince Kelly to ride the Wild Eagle roller coaster at Dollywood. “That by far is the scariest thing I’ve ever been on,” says the mom of 19, who screams the entire time.
• Lawson turns up the drama after his wisdom teeth extraction, and the family enjoys teasing him.
• Erin is touched when her friend Kelsey not only throws her a baby shower but also organizes a balloon release in memory of the babies that Erin and Chad miscarried before becoming pregnant with Carson.
• Kelly brings the family to tears when she shares how thankful she and Gil are for their children. “Many times we look back, and we feel like failures as parents…and y’all are the greatest kids in the world,” she says. “Y’all encourage us so much.”
• Kelly and the girls take Whitney on a walk to jump-start labor. When Whitney is admitted into the hospital to give birth to Bradley, so invites her mother, mother-in-law, and oldest sisters-in-law to join her during labor. 
• When Allie Jane Webster arrives, Gil and Kelly drop everything and head down to Florida to meet their first granddaughter. 
• After a difficult pregnancy, Erin endures an especially painful labor, but the new mom says Carson is more than worth it.
• Brandon organizes a complex scavenger hunt through Washington D.C. for Michael, which culminates with his proposal. 

Tune in to UP on Thursday, January 7th, for the season three premiere of Bringing Up Bates. (Click here for episode summaries.) We wish you a blessed New Year!

'It's Like the Good Old Days Again'

You're not the only one who is looking forward to the return of Bringing Up Bates. The Bates family is looking forward to it, too! Season three premiers Thursday, January 7th, 2016, on UP.

Gil: 'They All Push Each Other to the End'

Who do you think is the most competitive member of the Bates family? According to Kelly Bates, all the kids have a competitive spirit. "They get it from their dad," says the mom of 19 (video below).

Bates Home Makeover

Last season on Bringing Up Bates, Gil and Kelly Bates accompanied Michael, who was not yet engaged, on a trip to Chicago to spend time with Brandon Keilen and his parents. While they were away, Chad and Erin Paine stayed at the house and enlisted the children to help with a special surprise for Mom and Dad.

When Gil and Kelly walked through the door of their bedroom after the trip, they were shocked to see what the kids had been up to: an extreme home makeover.

"...Just the thought that our kids would want to do something like that for us, it was really sweet," shared Kelly, after the initial shock of the surprise had passed. Check out this video:

'Bringing Up Bates' Theme Song

For those who regularly tune in to Bringing Up Bates, you might occasionally find yourself singing along to the catchy theme song. If you have never the show, you are probably wondering what the opener sounds like. It's called "Talkin' About Family," by the band Max & Simon.

The song is not currently available for purchase, but we have embedded a video below, so you can watch and listen to it as many times as your heart desires. (Warning: There is a good chance that it will get stuck in your head.) Season three of Bringing Up Bates premieres in January 2016.

Lots of Surprises Ahead!

Are you looking forward to the Bates' return to TV? New episodes of Bringing Up Bates are scheduled to premiere on UP in January 2016. On the season two finale, we watched the entire family vacation in Dollywood (see video below).

At that point, Carson and Allie were still newborns, Michaela and Brandon were not yet married, and there were no other Bates courtships in the works. The upcoming season of Bringing Up Bates is sure to be filled with lots of surprises and new footage. What are you most looking forward to seeing?

Bates 'Speak Up'

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. In the following video, the Bates family encourages children to speak up about bullying.

Recap: "Hello Dollywood!" (Season Finale)

Tonight on the Bringing Up Bates season two finale, "Hello Dollywood"...

• Lawson and the rest of the Bates family are invited to perform at Dollywood's bluegrass festival.
• Brandon flies in from Chicago, and Alyssa and John fly in from Florida for this unique opportunity…and a short vacation. Chad’s mom, Tammy, and two of his siblings, Abby and Johnny, also come along.
• “I’m just hoping that the family takes it as serious as I do,” says Lawson. “And in normal Bates style, we practiced about twice.”
• By the time the family gets on the road and completes the hour drive to Pigeon Forge, Nathan is already there with Alyssa and John, and everyone is eager to hold Allie Jane.
• “We’ve got grandbabies at every stage,” says Gil. “It’s like the good old days again.”
• The clan is shocked when they see their accommodations: a beautiful, four-story, Bates-sized “cabin.”
• “It was not a cabin up in the mountains, it was a palace up in the mountains,” says Lawson. The cabin, called “It’s Got It All,” definitely lives up to it’s name…and then some.   
• Kelly calls a family meeting to lay down some ground rules. The mom of 19 is very cautious when it comes to heights, but she comes by it honestly. When Isaiah was a toddler, he was leaning against a railing, which gave way and sent him falling several stories. “It was a very traumatic, scary event,” shares Nathan.  
• The kids especially enjoy the elevator, which, according to Kelly, the family broke after just a few hours. “We didn’t break it,” corrects Gil. “It just quit working while we were there.”
• On the first night, the Bates watch the Dixie Stampede, which is one of the family’s favorite live shows. After it’s over, the clan heads backstage to meet a trick rider, who promises to come out to the house and teach Trace a few skills.
• The following day, the Bates head to the Dollywood theme park. During their first ride, the FireChaser Express, poor Callie completely freaks out and even tries to climb out of her seat while it’s moving.   
• Kelly, who is afraid of heights, has not been on a rollercoaster in years, but Gil convinces her to join him on the Wild Eagle. Her reaction is similar to Callie’s, although she doesn’t try to escape while the ride is in motion.
• When it comes time for the performance and Lawson sees the size of the crowd, he organizes a last minute practice. A rainstorm passes through just before the Bates are scheduled to go on stage, but the crowd returns, and the show turns out well. 
• To introduce Lawson's Pork Rinds song, Carlin says: "My brother Lawson is going to sing a song for you called Pork Rinds, and this is kind of why he doesn't have a girl. So, let's hear it Lawson!"
• “That had to have been probably one of the [most fun] trips that we’ve ever taken,” says Kelly.

Recap: "Addee & Ellie's Pool Party"

Bringing Up Bates, "Addee & Ellie's Pool Party"

• Gil fulfills his promise of giving Josie a private tennis lesson.
• “Sometimes we…treat the family like a herd or a flock, instead of like individual people that are valuable, special, important,” shares Gil, as he emphasizes the importance of spending one-on-one time with each child.
• Gil grew up playing tennis and says that his “claim to fame” was when he finally beat his dad on his dad’s 50^th birthday. He is proud of Josie for wanting to learn a new skill.
• Meanwhile, Kelly takes Trace clothing shopping at a local thrift store.
• “All of our boys are probably just as picky about clothes as our girls are,” shares Kelly. “They know brands, they know what they like, they know what they think looks good or doesn’t look good. So I feel like I’m the old lady out of style when I’m shopping with the kids.”
• Trace will graduate high school in December. Kelly asks if he plans to continue working with Gil, but Trace says that he “really ain’t big into that tree business.” 
• The mom of 19 encourages her son to experiment with a few classes at The Crown College of the Bible and reminds him that she and Gil will pay for his first semester, but she assures him that she will be happy with whatever choice he makes.
• Trace thanks his mom for taking him shopping and says he “had an amazing time” with her.
• Addallee and Ellie’s birthdays are in February and April, but the girls have been holding off for an outdoor pool party. Now that summer has rolled around, Gil and Kelly decide it’s time to fulfill the girls’ wish. Whitney’s mom, who has a pool, invites the family over to her house.
• “My parents have always really tried to make every birthday really special, especially for the younger children,” says Lawson. Gil and Kelly make a habit of taking the birthday kid out to a restaurant and then allowing him or her to have a party.
• After the Bates arrive at the pool, everyone jumps in the water while Kelly prepares lunch. “Where’s the birthday cake?” asks Zach. Turns out, Gil was in charge of picking up the food on Kelly’s list, and he bought two boxes of cake mix and brought them to the party.
• “Who’s going to cook a cake mix while we’re in the pool?” Lawson asks his dad. 
• “What about all the things I got right?” says Gil. “You did good, you did good,” Kelly assures her husband.
• Michaela saves the day when she arrives with a store-bought cake. Before chowing down, the Bates take turns sharing praises about Addee and Ellie, which is something they do at every birthday celebration.
• “If you’ve ever heard of constructive criticism, it doesn’t feel too constructive if you’re the one getting it,” says Gil. “But praise, or encouragement…is a powerful, powerful thing.”
• “Affirmation from other people, when it’s real, means so much,” shares Nathan.

Recap: "The Quest for the Dress"

Bringing Up Bates, "The Quest for the Dress"...

• Kelly and Michaela meet with Kim, Kelly’s older sister, to discuss flowers for the wedding. Kim has a flower shop in Mebane, North Carolina, called Gallery Florist. She has done flowers for each of the Bates kids’ weddings, as well as for Kelly’s wedding.
• Michaela wants cherry blossoms, but since they aren't in season in August, she settles for silk flowers.
• After Kelly married Gil, her mom adopted two daughters. One of those girls, Beth, is getting married the month before Michaela, so Kelly and Michaela meet up with the rest of the family for Beth’s wedding shower. Michaela and Beth are only a year apart in age and are close friends.
• For one of the shower games, guests divide up into teams and create toilet paper wedding dresses. Afterwards, Gil the penny pincher gathers the leftover toilet paper to take home. “Man, look at all this savings!” exclaims Gil. “This is the soft kind.”
• Later, Erin and Chad have a photographer take newborn pictures of Carson. “I have never known why people want to go take pictures of itty bitty babies,” says Nathan. “And then the next thing is, why they always want to take their clothes off and put them in a little bucket or something."
• Michaela, accompanied by her mom, sisters, and sister-in-law, heads to White Lace & Promises in Knoxville, Tennessee, in search of the perfect wedding dress. The bride-to-be wants a simple gown that makes her look skinny and has a train and sleeves.
• As expected, Michaela is hit with an onslaught of opinions each time she tries on a dress. “I’m going to tell you something about the Bates,” says Josie. “They are not scared to say what they think. They just blurt it out. Whitney doesn’t do that, but we do that.” 
• “It is good to be honest,” agrees Whitney. “But you have to do it in a loving kind of way.”
• Tori and Carlin turn out to be the biggest critics.
• After trying on a bunch of wedding dresses, Michaela admits to feeling discouraged. “I was thinking, ‘Maybe we should just elope or have a tiny wedding that nobody is going to see,'” she shares. 
• But before long, Michaela finds exactly what she has been looking for. The gown will need extensive alterations to remove some of the poof and add capped sleeves, but everyone agrees that it is very “Michaela.”
• The only catch is that it will cost nearly $2,000, which is significantly more than Michaela had allotted for in her wedding budget. She resolves to pray about it and make the final decision in a few days. 

Recap: "Boating with the Bates"

Bringing Up Bates, "Boating with the Bates"

• Now that Erin and Chad are home from the hospital with Carson, Chad’s mom, Tammy, is staying with them for a short while to help out.
• Carson arrived one month early, weighing 6 pounds at birth, but miraculously, he was healthy and did not have to be admitted into the NICU.
• Tori goes shopping at Burlington Coat Factory using a gift card that Mama Jane, Gil’s mom, sent as a reward for earning straight A’s in her first semester of college.
• When Tori returns home, the entire family gathers around to admire her new clothes. “Mom, she got a tractor load full of clothes!” exclaims Carlin.
• “Is this, like, my money?” Gil asks his daughter. When Tori assures him that she used the gift card from “Janey,” Gil smiles and says: “I love shopping with Janey!”
• The family begs Tori to model her clothes. “Her outfits were awesome,” says Carlin. “So all you guys out there, don’t mess with my sister.” Tori covers her eyes in embarrassment. “Carlin, stop,” she says, laughing. “She don’t want me to chase them off,” replies Carlin.
• Gil calls a family meeting to discuss plans for the week. Nathan announces that he is going to the lake for a day, and Kelly suggests bringing the entire family. Kelly grew up on a lake. Gil grew up close to one, and he also proposed to Kelly on a lake. Needless to say, the Bates family loves lakes.
• Everyone pitches in to gather supplies, including swimsuits, life jackets, a jet ski, and a lot of towels. (Gil suggests sharing towels, but the girls refuse.)
• The next day, as the family is about to leave for the lake, Michael’s bridesmaid and flower girl dresses arrive. Naturally, some of her sisters have to try them on immediately.
• The Bates arrive at the lake around lunchtime. They are thrilled to have Zach, Whitney, Bradey, Erin, Chad, and Carson join them.
• The Bates ladies swim in stretchy skirts and leggings, but according to Whitney, it really isn’t a big deal. She says you hardly notice it.
• Partway through the day, the skies open up and pour down rain. A strong bolt of lightening makes the girls scream.
• After the storm passes, Gil shows off his extreme waterskiing skills. “Dad is the coolest guy on the planet,” says Carlin. “My dad is an outstanding skier,” boasts Nathan.
• “My children are the funnest people to play with in the world,” says Gil. “They make me feel special, even thought I am just an average person. I hope I can encourage them as much as they have encouraged me.”
• Gil even dives off the top dock. “The problem with me trying to keep up with those kids; I hurt so much more after it’s over,” says the father of 19.

Recap: "Erin's Little Miracle"

Sorry for the delay in posting the recap of Thursday's episode. The technical difficulties were finally resolved, so I (Ellie) woke up early this morning to finish it off before leaving for church.

Bringing Up Bates, "Erin's Little Miracle"

• As Carson's due date grows closer, Erin and Chad make the finishing touches on the nursery.
• Chad surprises Erin with a night away at The Oliver Hotel in downtown Knoxville. Erin is in shock as they walk into a beautiful hotel room and Chad presents her with a gift basket filled with her favorite things.
• "It's my job to make sure that, occasionally--at least every day--that she gets pampered somehow," says Chad, who takes his wife for a mani-pedi, something he is clueless about but knows Erin will love.
• Later that evening, Erin and Chad browse through furniture and decorations at a small vintage shop downtown. Chad works eight hours a day at a metal recycling company, but on the side, he enjoys refinishing furniture and hopes he can turn that hobby into a full-time job someday.
• Chad treats Erin to a romantic dinner and gives her a long, sentimental letter.
• Meanwhile, Michael and Brandon continue preparing for their wedding.
• Kelly's sister Kay, who is a baker, brings over different flavors of cakes for the bride and groom to sample. They choose strawberry and plan to do a small tiered cake for pictures and larger sheet cakes for the guests.
• Brandon suggests a white cake with cherry blossoms. (He and Michael got engaged in Washington D.C. when they cherry blossoms were in bloom, so that is the theme of their wedding.)
• Michael's bridesmaids are Erin, Tori, and Alyssa; Jana Duggar; and Angie, Becky, and Christy Keilen (Brandon's sisters). She is having Kelly as her maid of honor because her mother is her best friend and she doesn't want to have to choose between three sisters.
• The Bates ladies browse DaintyJewells.com for bridesmaid and flower girl dresses. Michael's plan is for the flower girls to wear the Dreaming in Vintage gown and the bridesmaids to wear the A Night in Paris gown.
• Tori, Carlin, Josie, and Katie head to a local thrift store with Judson and Jeb to buy baby outfits for Carson. “Jud and Jeb are a handful to handle in a public place,” says Gil.
• On the way home, the crew stops by to deliver the clothes to Erin, who is thrilled. She and Chad cannot wait to meet Carson. “Anytime I see baby clothes now, I get so excited,” says Erin.
• For several nights leading up to Carson’s birth, Carlin sleeps at Chad and Erin’s house because she wants to be there to support her sister and brother-in-law.
• Erin wakes up one night with painful contractions about five minutes apart. Dr. Vick instructs Chad to bring her to the hospital. While they are leaving the house, Erin’s water breaks, and her contractions become even more intense.
• As soon as Erin is checked into the hospital, she starts insisting on an epidural, but at that point, she is only 1 cm dialated.
• “The one consoling thought to me during the whole labor was, ‘I’m about to see Carson,’” says Erin.
• Kelly joins Erin and Chad in the delivery room, and Gil stands on the other side of the curtain, pacing and praying.
• “I think that was probably the most helpless I’ve ever felt in my entire life,” says Chad. “All I could do was hold her hand and just try to talk to her.
• About 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital, Erin stats screaming, “I’ve gotta push! I’ve gotta push!” Before long, she is 7 cm dialated, and Kelly tells her that it’s time to have the baby. “And at that point, I think I realaized that, ‘I don’t think I’m getting an epidural,’” she says.
• Carson arrives less than two hours after Erin’s water breaks. Both Chad and Erin cry tears of relief and joy. “I really can’t put it into words, to have something that we hoped for for so long,” says Chad, as he holds his son soon after delivery.
• “You guys, I thought I was going to die,” shares Erin, looking at her mom. “If you did that nineteen times…”
• After the delivery, Dr. Vick explains that Erin had a placenta abruption, which means the placenta lining had separated from the uterus. That was the reason she had such intense contractions. If Carson had not arrived so quickly, the Paines could have faced serious complications.
• “God worked it out,” says Chad. “God knew there wasn’t time for an epidural.”
• It isn’t long before several of the older Bates kids arrive to meet their nephew. Erin had told her mom that they could come as soon as she got an epidural, but of course that never happened.
• “Holding Carson was just literally overwhelming,” says Michael.
• “I’m just so grateful that God answered our prayers, and Carson’s here,” says Erin. “I can’t wait to see him grow up.”

Recap: 'The Wedding To-Do List'

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "The Wedding To-Do List"...

• Michaella calls Brandon to tell him that Wallace Memorial Baptist Church has agreed to let them use the church for their wedding. The church has a youth lock-in that weekend, so the Bates and Keilens can only set up for the wedding the day of, and the reception must be over by the early evening.
• The Bates family has a fabulous oral surgeon who works with their budget. Zach, Michaella, Erin, and Tori have all had their wisdom teeth pulled, and now it's Lawson's turn.
• According to the family, Lawson has a pain tolerance of zero and is very melodramatic when it comes to dental procedures.
• On the day of the surgery, Gil brings a camera to capture Lawson's entertaining post-op for Kelly, who stays home because she is prone to fainting during the kids' medical emergencies. The mom of 19 can handle pain herself, but when she sees her children in pain, it makes her feel lightheaded.
• When the procedure is over, Lawson plays up the severity of his condition, but he manages to take a selfie on the drive home.
• Brandon comes to Tennessee so he and Michaella can meet with a wedding coordinator friend, shop for wedding bands, and choose brown tuxedos. Tori and Carlin go along as chaperones.
• Most people would consider 500-800 guests to be a massive wedding, but according to Nathan, "anything under 1,000 is a small wedding." Lawson agrees. Brandon, on the other hand, considers a small wedding to be one with around 50 people. Michaella and Brandon are going to have less attendees than all three previous Bates weddings.
• Although Michaella's wedding is going to be big, she and Brandon are committed to keeping it cost effective, which makes Gil very happy. "Sometimes when I see [my dad] crying when the girl is walking down the aisle, I wonder if he is crying because he is losing his girl, or if he is crying because he is seeing all the things he bought that he is just discovering," says Nathan. 

Recap: "Life Lessons"

Tonight on Bringing UP Bates, "Life Lessons"...

• The Bates family has a designated school room, which is filled with computers, but many of the children do their schoolwork on the living room couches.
• "I describe our school like a three-ring circus, because I've got all the way from kindergarten to senior high school," says Kelly.
• Kelly explains that she and Gil "had the advantage of going to college." She majored in human services with a minor in special education. Gil and Kelly say that going to college broadens a child's opportunities.
• Gil lost his job when he and Kelly had eight kids and had to learn a trade to keep his family afloat.
• Kelly loves having the freedom to personalize each child's curriculum, and she encourages her older kids to be involved in that process. "My mom is a genius," says Carlin.
• The older kids also help tutor the younger ones. Tori (19) has especially enjoyed assisting her mom in the schoolroom, which prompted her to pursue a teaching degree at The Crown College of the Bible. Tori is enjoying her classes and the opportunity to meet new friends.
• At the end of Tori's first full semester of college, several family members gather around the computer as she checks her graces. Straight A's! "That tells me one thing," says Gil, beaming. "You've got your mama's brains."
• Nathan heads down to Mississippi for a month to study under an aviation instructor, who is also a pastor, in order to earn his pilot's license. He plans to use this certification to enhance his mission work, which he is pursuing full-time. Gil and Kelly are thrilled for Nathan, but they are sad to see him leave.
• When it comes time for Nathan to fly home with his instructor, the family drives to the runway to meet him. It is a rainy day, and Kelly is concerned for her son's safety.  "If this is a bad landing, my mom's never going to ride with me in an airplane," says Nathan.
• Nathan's landing is a success, and everyone runs over to the plane to greet him.

Recap: "Doctor's Orders"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "Doctor's Orders"...

• Gil and Kelly sit down with Michaella to talk about the budget for her wedding. As they did for Erin and Alyssa and plan to do for each of their daughters, the Bates will give Michaella a sum of money for her wedding. If she and Brandon want to spend more, they will have to raise their own funds.
• The Bates' extended family members have helped keep wedding costs down. Kelly's sister Kay is a baker, and her sister Kim owns a flower shop.
• Kelly, Michaella, Erin, and Whitney search for a church that can accommodate 500-800 people and is available on the date Michaella and Brandon have chosen (August 15th). The couple's wedding colors-- pink and brown--also must look good inside the sanctuary.
• The first church doesn't work with Michaella's colors. She really likes the second church, but Erin is convinced that it won't hold enough people. Kelly takes videos to send to Brandon.
• "All of my family is very opinionated, and it can be very helpful, but at the same time, my list of important things doesn't necessarily match their list of important things," says Michaella.
• Unfortunately, the ladies soon find out that church No. 2 is not available on August 15th. Michaella admits she is nervous because she and Brandon cannot change their date.
• The third stop is Wallace Memorial, and everyone loves it. The church has a youth lock-in on August 15th which they have to figure out if they can work around. The Bates know that if it is God's will, the date will work out.
• Meanwhile, Aunt Kay (also known as "Kay Kay") comes over to show the little ones how to decorate a cake. The kids especially enjoy eating the icing.
• Before long, the cake decorating class turns into a food fight, which Kay admits she instigated. "I covered Kay Kay's glasses with icing, pink icing, so she couldn't see anymore," shares Callie, giggling.
• "This was a very successful thing," says Kay. "It was very messy, but messy can be fun. You need to teach kids how to have fun in the kitchen and not make it a chore."
• Erin wakes up early one morning with painful contractions, so she and Chad head to the hospital. The doctors give Erin medicine to stop the contractions, and they give the baby a steroid shot, in case he arrives early.
• After those complications, Erin's doctor decides to schedule weekly appointments and ultrasounds. "It's hard for me not to live in fear," says Erin. "It's scary, and you just want to be sure that everything is okay."

Recap: "Brandon Pops the Question"

Bringing Up Bates, "Brandon Pops the Question"

• Brandon Keilen calls Gil to share his plans for the big proposal. The Bates all love Brandon and say it's about time that he ask Michael to marry him.
• Brandon wants Michael to have a unique engagement ring, so he brings sketches to Harrington's Fine Jewelry in Chicago to start the design process. 
• The white gold ring features a big stone that represents God as the center of Brandon and Michael's relationship, surrounded by each of their initials (M and B).
• Brandon texts Michael to tell her that he is planning a trip to Washington D.C. and will be staying with his sister, Angie. Michael asks her parents if they mind if she goes along. Gil suggests that Michael surprise Brandon in D.C, so Michael makes plans to stay with Angie but does not tell her boyfriend. Little does she know that she is part of a much bigger plan. 
• Meanwhile, Gil and Kelly are secretly planning to fly to D.C. separately, but they day before they are scheduled to leave, Alyssa goes into labor. Gil and Kelly drop everything and head down to Florida.
• Alyssa gives birth at a birthing center and is released the same day. Gil and Kelly meet their granddaughter, Allie Jane, the day after she is born. Kelly is shocked at how good Alyssa looks so soon after giving birth. "You couldn't even tell she had had a baby," says Kelly. She looked great."
• After meeting Allie, Gil and Kelly "zip over" to D.C. for the proposal. 
• Michael arrives in D.C. and surprises Brandon at Angie's apartment. (Angie sends Brandon on an errand and has Michael greet him at the door when he returns.) 
• Michael arrives on a Sunday, and she and Brandon spend the day sightseeing with Angie and another of one Brandon's sisters, Becky. "Anxiety was kind of mounting as the day was getting closer," says Brandon, as he makes final plans to execute the proposal the following day.
• Back home in Tennessee, the kids use the iPhone app Find My Friends to figure out that their parents are no longer in Florida. They put two and two together and realize what is happening, and they are thrilled.
• The next morning, Brandon and Michael visit the D.C. cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial as the sun rises. Brandon tells Michael that he has to leave for a few hours to do work and hands her the first clue of a scavenger hunt.
• "Brandon, he gives 'thoughtful' an entirely new definition," says Michael, touched that her boyfriend planned something for her to do in his absence.
• The scavenger hunt takes Michael and Becky on a trek across the city. Angie and a third Keilen sister, Christy, are helping behind the scenes. At each location, Michael watches a video made by Brandon and cries at his thoughtfulness.
• The last clue takes Michael to Great Falls Park, Virginia, where Brandon is waiting with flowers and the ring. 
• "Michael, I want to say three things to you," Brandon tells his girlfriend. "The first thing is: I love you. The second is: I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And the third is a question: Will you marry me?"
• "Yes!" responds Michael. "I've wanted to from the very first day I met you."
• The couple shares a few hugs before their parents come out of hiding. 
• Brandon and Michael are planning their wedding for August 15th.

Recap: "Blessings...And New Beginnings?"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "Blessings...And New Beginnings?"

• Ashley and Anastasia, two friends whom Lawson and Nathan met at a conference, come for a visit.
• The boys recently visited Ashley and Anastasia in their "hometown" of New York City, and now they want to show the girls what life is like in the hills of Tennessee. “…We decided to give them a taste of what the real world is like,” says Nathan.
• The first item on the agenda? Horseback riding. “The most fun part was watching them try to make the horses go in a straight line,” says Lawson. “They did better than I thought,” says Nathan.
• Later, Gil and Kelly take Lawson, Nathan, Anastasia, Ashley, and a few of the other Bates to McCloud Mountain Restaurant, which has a beautiful view.
• The visit goes very well. “Who knows? They just might want to come back again someday,” says Lawson, smiling.
• Kelsey, Erin’s close friend from college, throws Erin a baby shower. The Bates usually invite both guys and gals to their baby showers, but Erin has decided she wants to have one with just ladies.
• As friends and family members gather for the shower, Kelly is stressed out because her other daughters are 30 minutes late, due to a miscommunication over whether Carlin or Tori is supposed to drive.
• At the end of the shower, Kelsey reveals a special surprise she has planned for Erin. She instructs everyone to grab a balloon and release it outside in memory of the babies Erin miscarried before she became pregnant with Carson.
• “It was very, very touching,” says Kelly. “It was a very loving gesture, a thoughtful gesture that I would not have thought of doing.”

Recap: "High Risk, High Hopes"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "High Risk, High Hopes"...

• Erin and Chad visit Dr. Vic to see how Erin is progressing in her high-risk pregnancy.
• Dr. Vic explains that with Erin's condition, there is a risk of having a stillbirth. 
• "This is one of those situations where there is nothing you can do but pray," says Gil.
• "You just have to pray that God knows best and that we're doing everything we can to have a healthy baby," says Erin.
• Back at the Bates house, the younger kids build an underground fort. Gil and Kelly don't have broadcast TV, so their kids spend a lot of time outside.
• Then, Lawson, Nathan, and Trace take Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah to a driving range for a golfing lesson, which, according to Zach, is just "the blind leading the blind."
• When they return home, the older boys load their airsoft guns and try to take the younger boys' fort. The Bates have one rule for airsoft wars: Everyone must wear eye protection.
• The rest of the family watches from the window.
• Erin prepares dinner for Zach, Whitney, and Bradley. According to Tori, "Erin, for the longest time, was the worst cook ever."
• "When Erin cooked at the house, we would say, 'When the fire alarm goes off, dinner is ready,'" teases Zach. Since marrying Chad and having a reason to develop her skills, Erin is now a great chef.
• "Zach doesn't say it much, and he doesn't show it, but he has a hard time watching his sisters grow up and get married and have babies," says Whitney. "It makes him sad."

Recap: Future In-Laws?

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "Future In-Laws?"

• Gil, Kelly, and Michael head to Chicago to meet with Brandon Keilen (Michael's boyfriend) and his parents. Erin and Chad come over to help with the little ones while Gil and Kelly are away.
• Brandon's family lives in Michigan, but when Brandon and Michael get married, they will live in Chicago, where Brandon has been working since graduating from school. (Brandon proposed soon after this episode was filmed, and the wedding is set for August 15th.)
• Gil requests that they have Chicago pizza, so they enjoy a meal at Giordano's. Kelly and Michael are eager for Brandon to propose, but Gil is a little more laid back. "I know that [Brandon] has got to be thinking engagement," says Kelly. "It has to be on his mind, because it's on all of ours."
• The following morning, they head to an art shop, where they each paint a piece of pottery.
• At lunch, Brandon pulls Gil into the men's room to ask for permission to propose in the next few weeks. Brandon tells Gil the date, but Gil doesn't plan to tell Kelly because he knows she will spill the beans.
• While they are eating, Kelly pulls out a 2015 calendar and asks Brandon if he wants to choose a date for the wedding. Brandon jokes that he is planning on Valentine's Day of 2015.
• Back in Tennessee, Erin and Chad and the kids prepare to redecorate Gil and Kelly's bedroom as a surprise. Chad and the boys work on refinishing the antique bedroom furniture, while the girls decorate.
• While Erin is babysitting, she has the kids use their food to make animals. Gil doesn't like wasting food, so the children say he would not approve.
• When Gil and Kelly return home, they are blown away by their newly decorated room. Gil tells the family that he had a special talk with Brandon but won't reveal the details. "I hardly ever know anything everybody don't know," says Gil.

Recap: "All Together Again"

Bringing Up Bates "All Together Again"

• Alyssa and John arrive from Florida. Alyssa is only several weeks away from her due date.
• The entire Bates family gathers to celebrate "I Love You Day" (aka Valentine's Day), which many of the kids say is their favorite holiday. Brandon Keilen, Michaella's boyfriend, flies in to join the celebration.
• "I hope this is the last Valentine's Day before I get married, says Michaella."But if it's not, we'll have another one to celebrate together." (Update: Brandon and Michaella got engaged in April and have set their wedding date for August 15th.)
• Gil and Kelly gather everyone in the living room for a family meeting. Four older men dressed in matching suits stop by to surprise Whitney. They hand her a card and a rose from Zach and sing two love songs.
• "It was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen," says Whitney. "I was proud of myself," says Zach.
• "Gil has always been very thoughtful," says Kelly. "And I think growing up, all of the boys in the family saw it was worth spending your time, your money, your effort on making your marriage fresh and alive."
• Gil and Kelly take all four couples (Zach & Whitney, Erin & Chad, Alyssa & John, and Michaella & Brandon) on a date to a Japanese restaurant. The chef cooks the food in front of them and provides entertainment, as well.
• To celebrate "I Love You Day," the Bates family draws names for a gift exchange. Gil and Kelly encourage the kids to focus on what they will give, rather than on what they will receive. Each family member spends about $25. 
• Later, Gil and Kelly and the younger kids go shopping for gifts. "Whenever we go to any store, my dad starts sweating like crazy," says Lawson. To cut down on costs, Gil goes through the gifts and takes out a few knick knacks that he doesn't think his kids need.
• Back at home, everyone helps prepare for the big Valentine's dinner. As usual, there are a lot of opinions flying around. According to Kelly, the only thing the entire family ever agrees on is to have more kids.
• Lawson and Nathan work out a plan to hang a piñata in the house. They back a crane up to the door and extend the arm through the doorway. "Y'all make the simplest things so complicated!" says Carlin.
• Everyone dresses up in their fanciest clothing and gathers for dinner. Then they distribute gifts, one at a time.
• The kids clap and cheer when Gil receives a new pair of jeans from his "special pal." "We have tried for a very long time to get my dad jeans that actually look good," says Tori.
• Brandon and Michaella unveil a big surprise for the family: a 3-D Bates family tree with a picture of each family member.
• The following day is Alyssa's baby shower, so Kelly makes a midnight grocery store run to buy food.
• The whole family attends the shower. Alyssa & John, Gil & Kelly, Papa Bill & Mama Jane (Gil's parents), Jenny & Greg (Gill's sister and brother), and Meema (Kelly's mom) & Nathan compete against each other to see who can correctly match price tags with baby supplies. The teams tie.
• "My family did a great job," says Alyssa. "People were so generous and thoughtful," says John.
• "I have the greatest life of everybody I know," says Gil.
• At the end of the shower, Gil and Brandon plan a meeting with Brandon's parents to discuss his relationship with Michaella.

Recap: "A Birthday to Remember"

Bringing Up Bates "A Birthday to Remember" (season finale)

• Gil beat his dad at tennis for the first time on his dad's 50th birthday. Now Nathan wants to beat Gil at wrestling on Gil's 50th birthday. Gil and Nathan consider going all out in professional wrestling attire, but they resolve to wear T-shirts and jeans to maintain their standards of modesty. Nathan thinks he is the winner, but the rest of the family says Gil is.
• Next, Lawson challenges Gil, but the Bates dad wins that match pretty easily. "Lawson is the best talker in our family," says Gil.
• Nathan has been planning a surprise 50th birthday party for his dad for several months. Kelly and the older kids meet at Zach and Whitney's to discuss details. "I think he's got an idea that something's going on, but there's no way he knows the magnitude of what we're doing," says Nathan.
• The kids are inviting family members, high school and college wrestling buddies, men Gil has ministered to, and pastors who have impacted Gil's life over the years. 
• "There is no way we can get this done," says Carlin. But Nathan has high hopes.
• "I just want to know how they come up with all them ideas," says Zach after his family leaves. "I couldn't hear myself think." The oldest Bates kid has grown accustomed to his quite life with his wife and infant son.
• Kelly takes Gil out for a romantic, one-night getaway to Maple Grove Inn, a bed and breakfast build in the late 1700s, so the kids can plan.
• "You have been such a good husband because you have made our marriage a priority," Kelly tells Gil that evening.
• "I don't know what's in the future, but I know Who holds the future, and I'm looking forward to what He's going to deliver," says Gil.
• Tori and Carlin go shopping for food. The girls pay with gift cards because Tori says their dad checks his bank balance "like every five minutes."
• Carlin attempts to come up with a few skits highlighting special moments from Gil's life to perform at the party, and Lawson writes a song for his dad.
• The kids finish cleaning and decorating just as guests start arriving from all over the country. Gil and Kelly pull into the driveway, and Kelly blindfolds her husband he can't see all the cars. They walk in the front door, and everyone yells "surprise."
• "Where did y'all come from?" Gil exclaims. He starts tearing up right away.  
• The kids act out Gil and Kelly's first date, which Gil didn't show up to. Zach reads a letter he wrote to his dad, and Lawson performs his song. Gil is touched that his kids and wife planned such a special surprise party and that so many people traveled so far to attend.
• Season two of Bringing Up Bates will premiere in June and run for 13 episodes.

Recap: "All About the Bates"

Bringing Up Bates "All About the Bates"

• The Bates sit down to answer questions submitted by fans.
• Do the kids want more siblings? Yes!
• Do Gil and Kelly want more children? Yes! "We would love more children," says Kelly. "I think that I'm getting a little too old, I guess, because we're trying and nothing's happening."
• How old do the kids have to be to court? Gil and Kelly set an approximate age of 18. "But honestly, for some kids it should be older because they ain't very mature," says Tori.
• The kids all agree that Brandon should propose to Michaella very soon. "I don't care how we get engaged," says Michaella. "As long as we get married, it doesn't matter."
• Will there be a Bates/Duggar wedding? Nathan says: "Absolutely yes." "There has to be out of 19 of them," says Tori.
• Which kids are the most outgoing? Tori and Nathan
• Who has the best style? Josie and Alyssa
• Have Gil and Kelly become less strict in their old age? Everyone says yes. The parents of 19 call it "grandparent syndrome."
• Do the Bates have any tips for disciplining children? Avoid being an angry parent, says Gil. "You may get instant results," explains the dad of 19. "But you are going to create a huge wall between you and your child..." He and Kelly encourage other parents to talk through things with their kids.
• What meal tips does Kelly have to share? She plans meals a week in advance. One of the Bates' favorite recipes is sautéed chicken. They cut boneless chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces and sauté them in olive oil, chopped onion, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper until golden brown. Then they add honey mustard and spicy mustard and serve with potatoes.
• Can the Bates identify baby pictures of all the children? Nope.
• Do the Bates have any hidden talents? Carlin can yodel.
• Is there anything Chad can't do? Everyone says no. "We are still discovering all the talents of Chad," says Nathan.
• The kids give viewers a tour of the house. On the second floor are the master bedroom, laundry room/family clothes closet, and girls' room. The girls have trundle beds to save space. Inside the girls' room is a tiny alcove that has a bunk bed for Judson and Jeb and an elliptical. The boys live on the third floor.

Recap: "The Bates Go to Florida"

Here is the recap of last night's show. We usually post our recaps immediately after each episode airs, but we were delayed this week due to technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience. :)

Bringing Up Bates "The Bates Go to Florida"

• The Bates clan arrives at Alyssa and John's home near Orlando. They newlywed couple has a small house that they keep very clean. "It was like somebody opened the floodgate..." said Gil, looking back on the family's visit.
• Kelly tells the kids to mind their manners while they are at Alyssa's. "We listen to the rules, but I don't know if we fully obey them," says Carlin.
• Alyssa is expecting a baby girl, Allie Jane, on April 10th. The Bates can't wait to welcome another grandchild.
• "Having a granddaughter is going to be exciting," says Kelly. "I know at the same time it is going to be really, really hard because I can't just go down the street and see her and hold her anytime I want to."
• John says he wants to wait about a month after the baby is born for Alyssa's 18 siblings to come visit. The kids aren't too happy about that.
• Gil brings his tree trimming supplies to clip a few branches for his daughter. Meanwhile, Kelly and Alyssa cook dinner. "It's definitely different cooking for 21 again," says Alyssa.
• "Alyssa's all about presentation," says Kelly. "She makes it look good."
• The entire family heads to Clearwater to go to the beach for the first time in seven years.
• "We like beaches, and we like people," says Gil. "We just like people to have all their clothes on at the beaches."
• Several of the kids wear swimsuits, which means WholesomeWear for the girls and swim trunks and shirts for the boys. The others wear regular clothes, but that doesn't stop their dad and siblings from throwing them in the ocean.
• Next, the family goes to the Clearwater Aquarium, where they have the privilege of feeding Winter, a dolphin with a prosthetic tale who stars in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.
• "It was pretty cool getting to pet a movie star dolphin...says " Katie.
• At Showcase of Citrus, the Bates pick fresh oranges. Then, they take a ride on one of the world's largest monster trucks. "I don't' think you could have picked a better way to end the trip," says Lawson.

Recap: "A Big Bates Thanksgiving"

Bringing Up Bates "A Big Bates Thanksgiving"

• Erin visits her doctor to determine the gender of her baby. The results are written on a piece of paper and sealed in an envelope, which Erin will give to her cousin Katherine so she can bake a cake with either pink or blue inside. "I am a super curious person, especially when it comes to what my baby is," says Erin.
• The family packs up and heads to Gil's parents' farm in Honea Path, South Carolina. Mama Jane and Papa Bill prepare to feed a few dozen family members for Thanksgiving Dinner.
• Gil's parents have owned their farm since they moved to the area when Gil was in third grade. Now, his brother and sister each own a house and several acres of land on the property. Gil and Kelly also own several acres.
• The entire family gathers together, including Michaella's boyfriend, Brandon, as well as Alyssa and John who have driven up from Florida.
• On Thanksgiving Day, Callie accidentally slams Jeb's finger in a door. Later, during the annual family football game (married guys versus single guys) Zach injures his knee. But no one ends up in the emergency room, so the Bates consider it a good day.
• Growing up, Gil spent a lot of time playing sports. His parents say he had a hard time balancing athletics with other priorities. Now that he has kids, he encourages them to put Christ first, which means they don't play organized sports.
• The Bates put on their matching outfits (purples, blues, and grays) and take family photos. Chad the photographer organizes the pictures.
• Bill and Jane rent a tent for Thanksgiving Dinner because their house isn't big enough to accommodate their growing family. After the meal, the Bates move inside and reflect on what they are thankful for. "There was probably not a dry eye in the place," says Gil.
• Kelly's response is the most touching: "I'm really thankful that y'all are so forgiving because I know as parents, we have let you down so many times. There have been times that we were upset with y'all that we shouldn't have been, or that we should have cut you slack and we didn't, or that we were impatient. And y'all have put up and endured and even encouraged us along and are so forgiving. And many times we look back and we feel like failures as parents, and we feel like we've let y'all down in so many ways. And y'all are the greatest kids in the world. Y'all encourage us so much. I just love every one of you.
• Gil says he is thankful that his wife had the idea of leaving the size of their family up to God. He thought it was crazy at first, but looking back, he says it was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
• Everyone gathers around as Erin cuts into the cake baked by her cousin. The inside is blue, which means she and Chad are having a boy!
• To end the night, Lawson plays piano while Papa Bill and Mama Jane dance. Mama Jane tries to teach Nathan. "Nathan cannot dance," says Michaella.
• The following day, the Bates (everyone but Michaella, who is returning home to Tennessee to work, and Brandon, who is flying back to Michigan) gather up their belongings to head down to Alyssa's house.
• The family talks about how different Thanksgiving will be in 2015. "Bradley might have a girl in his life...a sister," says Zach. "Zach, be serious!" responds Whitney.
• "There might be a couple more wives, or girlfriends," says Nathan. "I am not getting married before next Thanksgiving," confirms Lawson.

Recap: "Michaella and Brandon"

Bringing Up Bates, "Michaella and Brandon"

• Brandon comes to Rocky Top, Tennessee, for a two-week visit with the Bates family. His relationship with Michaella has been long-distance since the two started courting on December 30th, 2013, so Gil and Kelly suggested he come for an extended stay to bond with the rest of the family.
• "I have been counting down the days since I first found out he was coming," says Michaella. "I have been so excited about having this time to spend with him and seeing him interact with my siblings."
• When he arrives, Brandon surprises the kids with candy. "It was the bestest!" says Judson. "He's my favorite."
• "Brandon was smart to bring candy in one way, but he would have been smarter to bring earplugs," jokes Zach, who admits he is enjoying the quietness of married life with only one kid.
• As the third youngest of ten kids, Brandon's upbringing was busy, but definitely not as chaotic as Michaella's. "It's kind of overwhelming at times, but it's also kind of fun, just to be able to be in the atmosphere," he says, smiling. "They are all very loving people."
• Michaella and Brandon met at a homeschool conference about five years ago. "The more I get to know her, the more I realize how honored I am to be in this relationship with her," says Brandon.
• Gil and Kelly share one rule with the couple: they cannot be alone in a room together.
• While Michaella works her day job as a nanny, Brandon, born and raised in Michigan, accompanies Gil and the boys on a tree job. "He might be a Yankee, but he works," says Tori.
• The future Bates son-in-law is cautious at first, but by the end of the day, he is pulling his own weight. "Brandon was working so hard that he was making me start to look bad," says Trace.
• Later, Gil and Kelly take the courting couple on a walk in the woods. They give Michaella and Brandon some privacy by stepping back and allowing their daughter and her boyfriend to go on ahead. 
• "When you have chaperones, sometimes it's awkward to carry on really in-depth conversations together," explains Kelly. "So we like for all the courting couples to have opportunity to have all the conversations they need to have..."
• Gil and Kelly pray with Michaella and Brandon and give them a book, which is also used by the Duggar family. The "Getting Ready for Marriage Workbook is available on the Store page of the Duggar Family Blog.
• Michaella and Tori take the little kids to an indoor bounce house, and Brandon comes along. Tori tries to force Brandon to go bouncing and go down the slides with her. At one point, she grabs his arm, and Michaella, in fun, shouts, "Tori, hands off!"
• "If I'm not going to touch him, then she can't either," says Michaella, laughing. Tori shares her side of the story: "It wasn't like I was trying to hug the guy for crying out loud. I was just trying to get him to come have fun with me."
• Next, Brandon goes bowling with the Bates boys. "When do you think you're going to get engaged, man?" asks Nathan. "It's hard to say," responds Brandon, who admits that he is thinking about proposing but that he wants to keep the details a secret.
• At the end of the evening, Michaella's brothers put their stamp of approval on Brandon.
• To get a feel for Michaella's style, Brandon takes Tori, Carlin, and Josie ring shopping. Each sister has a slightly different idea about which ring Michaella would like best. In the end, everyone knows that Brandon will make the final decision.
• "Brandon handled all the connections with the kids in a great way, and I think he's really a star player," says Gil sincerely.