'A Monumental Proposal' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Monumental Proposal"

• After Kelton surprises her at work, Josie has to run home to pack. When Josie, Kelton, and the parents arrive in Utah, they are amazed by the beautiful scenery.
• “My nerves had been high when I asked Josie at work to come on this trip, but when we landed, I thought everything was going to calm down a little bit, and really my nerves just kept building the entire time,” says Kelton.
• The group arrives at their rental condo in Moab, and Kelton gives Josie the first packet, which represents the first stage of their relationship—the “best friend” stage. The packet contains a handwritten letter, pictures, and a best friend charm for Josie’s bracelet. “I was just amazed at the thoughtfulness,” says Kelly.
• The following day, the first stop is Eklecticafe. When the server brings out coffee, he presents Josie with the next packet, representing the “boyfriend/girlfriend” stage. The packet has another letter, more pictures, and another charm (a coffee cup).
• As the engagement unfolds, Kelly films the highlights on her phone and sends the videos to the rest of the family.
• Kelton has planned a sightseeing tour of Arches National Park in a 4x4 vehicle. Michael and Kelton arrange for one of the Navtec Expeditions employees to place the next two packets in two scenic locations ahead of Josie and Kelton's arrival.
• When the road gets bumpy, Kelly starts freaking out. “…Every time Mrs. Bates would get in a panic about something, [the guide/driver] would just continue to antagonize and make it worse,” laughs Kelton.
• At Double Arch, Kelton leads Josie to the third packet, representing their courtship. He gives her a bridge charm, another letter, and more pictures. “There’s something about seeing your child happy,” says Kelly. “That brings the most fulfillment. And knowing how happy that Josie is going to be when Kelton surprises her…I’ve been counting down the days for this.”
• The final destination is Tower Arch. Josie notices that Kelton is becoming increasingly nervous, and she expects that the big moment has arrived. The final packet (the engagement stage), is sitting at the proposal spot. While Josie is looking at the infinity charm, Kelton gets down on one knee.
• “Josie Bates, you are the love of my life, and I don’t want to do life or live without you," Kelton says. "Everything that we have been through together has brought us to this point, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re the one that I want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?” Josie says yes!
• “I am completely blown away by all of the planning and work and sentiment that Kelton put into the trip and the engagement, and now I’m just excited to get married,” says Josie.
• “It seems like, as soon as we check one thing off of our calendar, ten more things are added to the calendar,” says Kelly. “It’s like the calendar keeps growing just like the family keeps growing.”
• Back at the Bates house, Carlin and the Paines head up a huge cleaning and redecorating project as a surprise for Gil and Kelly. They repaint the living room and dining room white, and they repaint the exterior doors and dining table blue. They also de-clutter. “I don’t’ know what Dad would have thought if he was here just because he’s a pack rat,” says Erin. The finishing touches are new decorations and family photos for the walls.
• Meanwhile, Zach and Whitney sit down with the owner of Hunter Valley Farm, the venue for their upcoming vow renewal, to discuss decorations and logistics. Whitney says there are two reasons why they are doing a vow renewal: she wants to show Zach how much she still loves him, and she wants to honor her parents because they missed out on her wedding.
• As always, Zach is all about the food. “Everything could fall apart that day, but as long as we have good food, he’s going to be okay,” says Whitney.

'Blue or Pink, What Do You Think?' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Blue or Pink, What Do You Think?"

• “When I found out Tori was expecting, the first thing I said is, ‘Can I plan you a gender reveal party?’” says Erin, who loves parties. Tori and Bobby arrive at the event, attended by the entire Bates family and hosted under a pavilion at a local park. The gender is soon to be revealed, but that doesn’t stop the family from trying to pull the news out of the parents-to-be.
• Gender reveal parties are a newer thing for the Bates because Gil and Kelly enjoyed waiting until birth to find out the gender of their babies.
• After lunch, everyone divides into two groups, which turn out to be about even, based on their guess. To make the announcement, Tori and Bobby fill a balloon with blue powder, and then Tori pitches the balloon to bobby, who hits it with a bat. Both Tori and Bobby admit that they were hoping for a boy first. His name will be Robert Ellis Smith IV, but his nickname will be Kade. Bobby says it’s Latin for “fourth generation.”
• At Zach and Whitney’s house one morning, they discuss plans for their vow renewal over breakfast with the kids. They are all eating Honey Nut Cheerios, which Bradley and Kaci love. “I like Cheerios, with milk and a spoon,” says Bradley. 
• “We always ate off-brand everything growing up, except for Honey Nut Cheerios,” says Zach. 
• Later, Kelton shares his proposal plans with his father, two sisters, and two brothers. “It’s a huge relief that all these plans are coming together,” he says “Now that we’re getting things locked down, it’s starting to hit how excited I am that I actually get to propose in Utah.”
• “We kind of have an idea of when we want to get married, but I don’t have a ring, and it needs to change soon, so hopefully those plans are in the making,” says Josie.
• On the big day, Kelton picks up pink roses at Powell Florist and drives over to Josie's place of employment. “As I was walking up to her salon, my heart was just pounding in my chest,” admits Kelton. “I was not expecting to be so nervous.”
• When Josie sees Kelton and asks him why he's there, he responds: “I have some bad news and some good news, okay? The bad news is, I don’t think your next client is going to show up because that’s a fake appointment. The good news is, we’re going on a trip. We’re going to take you somewhere that you’ve always wanted to go, and we’re going right now.” 
• Josie shares she has never been one for surprises but that she has come to enjoy Kelton’s surprises.
• Gil and Kelly present Josie with a cake decorated with graham crackers and a cactus to see if she can guess the destination, which she does.
• At the start of the trip, Kelton presents Josie with a charm bracelet and an airplane charm. Along the way, he will give her additional charms: a heart that says “best friends” to symbolize the start of their relationship; a coffee cup because they have shared many coffee dates; a bridge because Kelton asked Josie to court while standing on a covered bridge; and an infinity symbol.

Tune in next week for the final episode of season seven, which will feature the proposal!

'Baby Fever and Proposal Decisions" Recap

Bringing Up Bates “Baby Fever and Proposal Decisions”

• A group called Carpenters For Christ has arrived to help Gil and the boys expand the church. “They like to start really early, so they said, ‘Be out here about 5:30,’” says Gil, chuckling. “Bates time, 5:30 means 5:30pm.” But the Bates know they will need to do better than “Bates time” for this project.
• The three middle boys are thrilled to be part of the building crew. “We got a lot out of this process,” explains Jackson. “We got some blisters, we got really tired, but we got a few learned lessons. It’s fun, and it’s hard work.”
• On the first day, the crew gets a slow start due to some unexpected rain, but after just six days, they are already working on putting up the roof and installing windows. “Only about 15 percent of the guys are skilled…” says Nathan. “The rest of us, this isn’t what we do for a living, but we’re just kind of taking directions from people…”
• After Carpenters For Christ leaves, the Bates still have a lot of work to do, but they are extremely grateful for the progress that has been made.
• Whitney drives 10 minutes over to Erin’s house for a play date. “When I first had Everly, just adjusting to the life with three kids was really hard,” admits Erin. “Now I think it’s getting easier because Carson and Brooklyn are amazing with her.”
• Whitney is hit hard with baby fever when she holds newborn Everly, and Erin completely understands how she feels. “Baby fever is very real and very scary, especially when it’s my wife that has the baby fever,” jokes Chad.
• “I just love these kids growing up together,” says Whitney. “It just makes me so happy.” She states that she really wants a third child but that she is scared, as well.
• Later, Gil and Kelly meet Kelton and his dad, Michael, at their house for an engagement discussion. Gil and Kelly had given Josie and Kelton the yellow light, which Gil had intended to mean “move forward with caution.” But Kelton says that Josie has been putting the pressure on him to propose, although he doesn’t seem to mind.
• “Josie kind of established the parameters when she says she wanted a fall wedding, and not next fall, so I think the boundaries have been set,” laughs Kelly.
• Kelton is considering proposing under the same covered bridge where he asked Josie to begin a courtship, but Kelly gently suggests another idea. Gil and Kelly are planning to take Josie on a birthday trip to Utah, a place Josie has always wanted to visit. “What if you showed up there and surprised her?” Kelly tells Kelton, who is absolutely thrilled.
• When Kelton pulls out the ring, Gil and Kelly are shocked that he is so on top of things. “The [Balka family] is already a step ahead of us,” says Kelly, who thinks the ring is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen.
• As Gil and Kelly leave, Kelton is excited but is also very nervous about planning this big event.  

'The Ring, the Dress and Ready for Next Steps' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The Ring, the Dress and Ready for Next Steps"

• Kelton, accompanied by Bobby, goes engagement ring shopping at Bristol & Bragg Jewelers in Maryville, Tennessee. He already has a square, princess-cut diamond but needs to have it set. “Josie, she was pretty specific in what she liked,” says Kelton.
• Gil and Kelly and the boys arrive at the Smiths’ Knoxville apartment to help them pack their belongings into a friend’s moving truck. Within an hour, everything is piled into the truck, including a small car. This past year has gone by so fast,” says Tori. “There’s a lot of things that are happening, and it’s really overwhelming, but we’re really excited.”
• When Tori and Bobby and the Bates arrive at the new apartment in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the following day, their new church family comes by to help unload. The first-floor apartment is gorgeous, but it’s also double the price of their old one. “…The living room is huge…and the bathrooms are huge, and the closets are huge, and I love it,” says Tori. “I’m so excited about it.”
• After unloading, everyone goes out for dinner. “I think I’m still trying to put off the emotions,” says Kelly, knowing she will soon have to say goodbye to her daughter.
• In Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Whitney and Zach visit Renee’s Bridal to choose a dress for their vow renewal. Renee has designed wedding dresses for Tori and some of the Duggars. Carlin and Josie go along for support. “Taking young girls around wedding dresses is like taking mamas around babies,” says Zach. “It kind of starts the fever.”
• The first dress has a keyhole back that everyone likes. The second one has a high neck and no sleeves and immediately becomes the favorite. But when Whitney tries on the third gown, Zach tells her she looks beautiful in that one, as well. “I was no help…” he admits.
• “The last one was really pretty,” says Whitney. “But we all just kept referring back to that second one because it was just a mature, classy, beautiful dress that would absolutely fit this event. It was the one.” 

'Asking Permission and a Big Decision' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Asking Permission and a Big Decision"

• Zach and Whitney take Josie and Kelton out to dinner at Aubrey's Restaurant. "We get along really well with Zach and Whitney," says Kelton. "We really value their friendship and their counsel."
• As soon as they sit down, Zach gets down to business and asks the courting couple when they are planning on getting engaged. "Zach is very to the point about everything in life," says Kelton. "It's refreshing, and it's kind of funny."
• It turns out that Kelton is preparing to have a "large talk" with Gil. But first, he and Josie meet together with Gil and Kelly. "...We have come to the conclusion that we believe that the Lord is leading us toward marriage," says Kelton. "We want to seek your guidance on when a potential time frame could be to move forward with that. And we want to hear your heart on whether or not y'all are in agreement with that."
• Josie's dream is to have a fall wedding, hopefully this year. That's only five months away. 
• Gil isn't sure if he can handle another wedding so soon, but Kelly tells him, "Honey you better prepare because this is domino effect." He replies: "And I don't even play dominoes. Let's just say, these wedding things for the girls is going pretty good. The guys, let's just say the dominoes are not falling yet."
• When Kelly tells Gil that both Josie and Carlin have already been browsing for wedding dresses online, Gil says, "We're getting rid of the internet, too." Josie busts out laughing.
• But all joking aside, Gil wants his daughter to be happy. "Hey, we'll do all we can to help you do whatever we can do to help make your dream happen if we can," he says, in tears.
• Later, Gil and some of the boys head over to the church building that they have recently moved into. The congregation has grown, so the plan is to tear half the sanctuary down and build a new one that seats almost 300 people. Lawson suggests keeping the current building and adding a separate sanctuary, but Gil ultimately decides to continue with the existing plan. The project will be completed by the Bates, other church members, and a group called Carpenters for Christ from Alabama.
• Eight weeks into their pregnancy, Tori and Bobby have their first ultrasound at Dr. Vick's office. "I'll tell you, when you sit in that ultrasound room for the first time, all of the sudden you see that life moving around in there, it's insane," says Bobby.
• Dr. Vick says that the ultrasound looks good. "Everything's great, I think, except for sickness," shares Tori, who is due November 24th. Tori's progesterone was low, but the doctor was able to bring it up with medicine. He also prescribes something to help with morning sickness.

'Milestones and New Chapters' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Milestones and New Chapters"

• Two weeks before moving to Nashville, Tori heads over to Erin's house for a cooking lesson. "I definitely need cooking lessons from Erin before I leave because I have a knack for always messing things up," says Tori. "I'm a struggling cooker."
• Erin admits that she didn't know how to cook a single meal when she first got married. She shows Tori how to make her newest meal: chicken breasts marinated in balsamic vinegar and garlic.
• The food turns out great, but Tori is still lacking confidence in her cooking abilities. Bobby and Chad join the ladies for dinner. "Me and Tori have always been close as sisters, and just at the thought of her leaving...it just really tears me up," says Erin.
• Meanwhile, Gil and the guys work on a tree job. "When Dad first started his own business, it was very humble beginnings," says Lawson. "This was Dad with a chainsaw and boys piling wood [and] hauling it with a little four-cylinder Dodge pickup truck."
• The older boys are getting busier by the day, so it's time for Jackson to learn how to use spikes to climb a tree. It proves to be much more difficult than the tree climbing that Jackson is used to, but he makes it up to the top.
• Later, the family attends the Crown College graduation ceremony to honor Tori, Trace, and Josie. Trace, who has completed the foundation for Christian life certificate, never saw himself going to college, but he ended up loving it. "College totally changed Trace for the better," says Josie. "It helped him come out of his box and kind of find who he was."
• Josie has earned her diploma in cosmetology, a two-year program. "I'm honestly speechless," says Kelton. "I couldn't be more proud of her."
• Tori is presented with a bachelor's of Biblical studies in elementary education, which took four years to complete. "I am literally so pumped out of my mind that I don't even know how to say it because I have been dying to be graduated for my whole life," says Tori.
• "Everybody is different," says Kelly. "Some of the kids have wanted to purse college, some have not. They're all different, and I'm proud of all of my children. But it does take a lot of perseverance."
• After the ceremony, the family and extended family gathers at the Bates house for a party. The next nine days will be spent packing Tori and Bobby's apartment and moving them to Nashville. "Any time I get together with my family or siblings, I treasure and cherish that moment..." says Tori.
• "Life happens too quick," says Nathan. "Changes are getting bigger."

'Chaperoning Dos and Don'ts' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Chaperoning Dos and Don'ts"

• Having recently realized that their younger kids don’t know much about chaperoning, Gil and Kelly host a Chaperoning 101 class. “We noticed our chaperones are getting younger and younger and younger,” says Kelly. “And some of these little guys think that chaperoning means getting a free meal.
• When the parents ask Zach and Whitney to demonstrate how a courting couple should act on a date, Zach jokingly turns the tables. “What did y’all do on dates?” he questions. “Y’all show us what y’all did on dates. We’d love to learn from y’all. I mean, y’alls’ love has lasted through 19 kids. What did y’all do?” Everyone busts out laughing.
• While they do believe in chaperones, Gil and Kelly also encourage those chaperoning to let the couple have chances to talk privately, as long as they are in a public place. For example, they might get a private table at a restaurant.
• Speaking of chaperones, Katie accompanies Josie to Kelton’s house to eat with him and his family. “I think we’ve kind of agreed that when we first get married, we’re probably going to cook together since I’m not a very good cook yet,” admits Josie. Kelton’s youngest sister, Kerstin, shows off the bunnies that she got for her birthday. They end the day with ice cream at Cruze Farm Dairy.
• About a month before they move, Tori and Bobby drive to Hendersonville (near Nashville) to meet with Greg Mutsch, senior pastor at the church, Bible Baptist, that has hired Bobby as its youth pastor.
• They also tour some beautiful, two-bedroom apartments in the area. “If it doesn’t smell bad, I’m happy,” laughs Tori.
• While in Hendersonville, Tori and Bobby go on a double date at a bowling alley with Carlin and Evan. “This is totally going to be our future, like every weekend, as much as we can,” says Tori.
• Lawson stops by to join in on the fun and jokingly accuses them of discriminating against single people when they don’t allow him in their couples’ picture.
• Back in Rocky Top, Bradley helps Zach build a dog house for Boomer. “One thing Zach’s great at is building,” says Lawson. “He just needs to make it big enough so he can fit in it,” adds Carlin, smiling.

'Labor Paines' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Labor Paines"

• “My last week of pregnancy, I’m always so uncomfortable,” admits Erin. “I’m anxious, I’m worried about how the birth experience is going to be.”
• Erin hits up a local nail salon with Tori, Carlin, Katie, and Whitney to relax before labor and delivery. “Every time I look down at this big thing in my belly and realize that it’s got to come out, it’s disturbing,” laughs the expectant mama.
• Chad stops by the nail salon after work. He enjoys learning all about the process, and he loves the comfy chairs.
• Kelly and Erin take the kids for a walk at Norris Dam, hoping that it will jump start labor. Kelly is looking forward to welcoming another grandbaby.
• At 9:05pm, Erin is having strong contractions and is really nervous. Carlin comes over to the Paine house to start filming. “I’m really excited to be a part of all of it,” says Carlin. They leave for the hospital, which is 30 minutes away, around 9:45.
• During the drive, labor starts to pick up. “And when Erin goes to the kneeling position, I’m like, ‘Oh boy, we are in trouble,’” says Chad.
• Erin tries to convince her husband to run a red light, but Chad says there are too many cars around. But when he speeds up on the highway, she tells him to slow down. Go figure. When they finally arrive at the hospital and get a room, Erin is relieved.
• Gil, Kelly, Michael, and Katie arrive. No one can get in touch with Tori, who had really wanted to be at the birth. Katie has even tried pounding on her front door, but to no avail.
• At 3:37am, Gil looks at the monitor and realizes that it could be time to push. The nurses come rushing in, but Dr. Vic has stepped away. The doctor arrives just in time, and Everly appears. “There’s really no words to describe what it’s like to see your baby,” says Chad. Everyone is crying tears of joy. Gil comes back in and joins the celebration. Katie is on the couch sleeping during the entire birth.
• “This has been the most adventure-filled, blessing-filled, 96 hours, probably of our life,” says Gil. “To have two new granddaughters, two healthy moms, and now looking forward to what the Lord’s going to do next.”
• Later, Carson and Brooklyn arrive, and they are elated to meet Everly. Brooklyn calls her a baby doll. The rest of the Bates clan visits the hospital to hold and kiss the new arrival.
• “Awe, this makes me want to have another baby,” Erin says during the interview. The look on Chad’s face says no. “Okay, we’re done interviewing,” he says and jokingly starts to stand up.

'A Bundle of Joy and a Rodeo Show' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Bundle of Joy and a Rodeo Show"

• Kelly arrives in Florida to visit Alyssa, who has been having steady contractions all week. She pampers her daughter with a trip to a local nail salon.  “It’s great when my mom comes to town,” says Alyssa. “She relieves so much stress.”
• At Alyssa’s request, Kelly shares some advice for surviving with three kids: “I would try to remind myself the blessings in front of me and laugh at the silly things, not get stressed over the unimportant things.”
• Early the next morning, Kelly receives a call at the hotel that Zoey has arrived. “Whenever she says she thinks she’s going into labor, she doesn’t tell me anymore because I’m like, ‘Oh, we need to go,’” says John. “Why risk having the baby here?” “He freaks out,” says Alyssa, laughing.
• The baby is born within an hour and a half of the time that the Websters arrive at the birthing center. Kelly is thrilled to be invited to meet them at the center just before they are released to leave. “I have held a lot of babies, but it always just puts me in awe, the tears that it brings when you see it and it’s there and it’s healthy and you’re holding it,” says Granny. “Every time, it’s new and fresh and wonderful and special.”
• Back at the Webster home, Allie and Lexi are introduced to their new sister. “Zoey came out!” exclaims Allie. Gil arrives, and they do a video chat call with the kids back home. That night, Gil, Kelly, Alyssa, and John enjoy a takeout steak dinner.
• Meanwhile, Lawson and Trace arrive in Shipshewana, Indiana, to participate in a rodeo with friend Shadow Montag.
• During practice, the brothers enjoy showing each other up. “As far as the boys’ competitive spirit, they’re only competitive, normally, when they’re breathing, which is all the time,” says Gil. “So I don’t care what you do, the other one’s going to say, ‘Well I can do that, too.’”
• Lawson opens the show with the national anthem. When it comes time for the boys to do their tricks, they are nervous, but the crowd loves their routines. After the show, they sign autographs.