'Holiday Traditions and Baby Additions' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Holiday Traditions and Baby Additions"

• As the show opens, Zach and Whitney and their little family are enjoying some bonding time at home, now that baby Khloe has arrived. “Bradley, from the second we told him that he was getting another little sister, has always seemed very possessive of her,” says Whitney. “Now that she’s here, he definitely wants her all to himself. He’s quite the protective big brother.”
• Kelly brings several of the kids come over to see Khloe. “Even though there’s so many grandkids and we’ve been through it a lot, we always get excited for a new niece or nephew,” says Callie.
• Later, family and friends gather to throw Carlin and Evan a baby shower. “Everybody acts like pregnancy is easy,” says Carlin. “They’re liars. I will be upfront with you. It is so much work.”
• It’s a coed event, and the Bates guys admit that baby showers are not their favorite types of parties. “Having both guys and girls at showers, I’m always very happy when other guys show up,” says Brandon, chuckling.
• Carlin, Kelly, and Denese compete in a diaper stacking competition. At the last second, Kelly’s and Carlin’s stacks fall, and Carlin grabs her mother-in-law’s hands so her stack falls, too. “If I could rewind, I’d probably do that different,” Carlin admits.
• Evan, Kelton, and Ethan (Evan’s brother) compete to see who can eat the most baby food. Evan wins the fruit round and advances to the veggie round against Nathan and Ben (Evan’s brother-in-law). Ben wins.
• Erin goes into labor late in the evening, and Carlin comes over to document the event. Kelly, Tori, and Whitney meet them at the hospital, and Gil arrives later. Before long, Gil is asleep on the couch.
• Erin’s oxygen levels drop, and the baby’s heart rate drops a little, so the nurse gives Erin an oxygen mask. When she starts to push, Holland arrives very quickly. Later that morning, the other three little Paines come by to meet their sister. They bring gifts.
• Later, Chaney comes to town, and Trace takes her on a skating double date with Zach and Whitney.   
• Caroling at nursing homes and assisted living facilities is a long-time Bates Christmas tradition. “Ever since I was a little kid, my parents wanted to have a huge emphasis on music, and they always taught us, ‘You may not be the best singer or the best musician, but if it can somehow minister to somebody, then it’s worth it, and it’s a blessing,’” says Lawson.
• The family gathers at the big house to rehearse. “One of my favorite memories, looking back, was taking treats to people who were shut in or couldn’t get out,’ says Michael. “And as kids, I think it’s easy to just want new things and get excited about gifts. And Dad and Mom were careful to help us learn that it’s important to give and it’s important to think of others and just to help build that character in us.”
• When the Bates arrive at Morning Pointe of Powell, dozens of residents come to hear them sing. “I have zero confidence that we will sound anything close to harmonious to the ears, but it isn’t all about being the best at something,” says Zach. “Sometimes, it’s just good to go and give of yourself to some other people.” Bradley and Carson join in and perform “Jingle Bells” for the crowd.

'Holiday Cheer and New Baby Khloe is Here' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Holiday Cheer and New Baby Khloe is Here"

• Zach and Whitney are squeezing in some extra bonding time with Bradley and Kaci before Khloe’s arrival. Whitney takes Bradley out for beans and cornbread. “[Bradley’s] already looking so forward to having [Khloe],” says Zach. “He’s been talking about her since he first found out, so he’s pretty excited right now.”
• Meanwhile, Zach and Kaci have a tea party at the house. “She always wants to do her little tea parties and girl things,” says Zach. “But most of the time she…plays with [Bradley], she ends up playing monster trucks and dinosaurs, so I thought, ‘This will be fun. We’ll get to do some little girl things.’”
• “I thought I’d have me a tea party, but I didn’t have any tea because I’m trying not to drink as much sugar so I don’t be as fat when the baby gets here,” says Zach. He finds some hot chocolate to pour in Kaci’s teapot, but it leaks out the side. 
• In an interview, Evan says he is looking forward to doing all the girly things with Layla, and Bobby says he hopes to have a daughter someday.
• At the Bates house, Kelly wants her Christmas decorations up before Mama Jane comes for Thanksgiving. The Bates are approaching a very busy season, especially with the babies due, and Kelly wants the task finished early. Erin is in charge of the decor, and the siblings gladly lend a hand. While they are working, snow starts to fall outside.
• Later, Whitney goes into labor. She and Zach drop the kids off at Granny’s house and head to the hospital. It's not long before the epidural is administered.. Both sets of parents, as well as Carlin, Tori, and Erin arrive for moral support. “When you marry into a big family, you might as well expect that every event in your life is going to be big,” says Whitney.
• Before long, Whitney is 10 cm dilated, and it’s time to start pushing. Bradley and Kaci arrive soon after Khloe is born and are beyond thrilled to meet their little sister. “If I had to try to sum up today in words, I would probably just start crying because when I reflect back on her being born and all the love in the room, I can’t help but just cry…” says Whitney.

'Brandon's Book and Kelly Jo's New Look' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Brandon's Book and Kelly Jo's New Look"

• Both Christmas and baby Holland Paine will be arriving soon. Chad comes home with gifts for Erin. “With the kids, trying to get them involved, thinking about Mama and all she’s doing for them,” says Chad. “I mean, that helps a child say, ‘Hey, you know what, life’s not just about me. I’ve got a mom here that’s serving me.’ So that’s what we were trying to do tonight.”
• The big gift is a foot spa, and Erin is thrilled because she loves having her feet pampered. But once Chad gets the foot spa set up, the kids are eager to take part, too. “I love that he includes the kids in everything,” says Erin. “Even if it’s going to make a mess. Even if it’s going to be a crazy night. We’re making memories.”
• Erin asks Carson if he is going to spoil his wife someday. He replies, referring to the foot spa: “I’m going to get her one of these. No, I’m going to get myself one of these.”
• At a Christian bookstore in Knoxville, Brandon has his first book signing. He reads a chapter from his book and then signs copies. “Tonight was definitely pretty surreal,” says Brandon, with his arm around Michael. “I mean, we’ve been working on this book for so long. I didn’t think I’d get it finished. Thanks to this girl right here, it got done.”
• Later, Kelly arrives at Josie’s house ahead of an anniversary date with Gil. “We have a lot of dates but not a lot of fancy dates,” says Kelly. That’s why she has asked her daughters for help with hair and makeup.
• “My mom is used to wearing her hair the same way, and she doesn’t normally change it, just because that’s what she’s done for years,” says Josie. “So today, we’re going to try something different and see how she handles it.” Kelly tells Josie to surprise her with a hairstyle.
• After working in a salon, Josie discovered that her passion is weddings. She and a friend now has a business doing hair for weddings.
• Katie and Carlin arrive and start Kelly’s makeup. Katie has just returned from a week with Travis and his family and says that the relationship is going well.
• Kelly ends up with an up-do, beautiful makeup, freshly painted nails, and fake eyelashes. She chooses a black maxi dress. One of the options that Carlin brings over is a dress with leopard prints, which isn’t Kelly's taste.
• When Gil arrives in his suit carrying flowers, he is stunned. “She was really hot, I’ll just tell you,” says the Bates dad. Gil chooses Kitchen 919 in Downtown Knoxville. During dinner, Gil gives Kelly a long, silver necklace
• “My dad, he’s got some experience romanticizing my mom,” says Zach. The other siblings say that Gil frequently brings home flowers and other gifts and leaves love notes around the house. “At some point or another, there’s going to be trials,” says Kelly. “But knowing that whatever comes our way, we’re committed to see this through and to get through it together and to stay together no matter what, we’re still best friends.”
• “It’s what feels the closest in the marriage when you both feel safe with each other, you both trust each other, and you both are willing to sacrifice for each other,” says Gil. “But when you’re sacrificing, it’s really not a sacrifice. It’s just what comes natural when you love somebody.”