Who's Next?

 

Katie Bates, Carlin Bates, Josie Bates

Josie: "You could be next."

Carlin: "I'll let you." 

Almost three years ago, Tori and Bobby Smith found out they were expecting their first child, who would be named Kade Smith. In this throwback scene from Bringing Up Bates, the newly expectant Tori shares how unprepared she is when it comes to pregnancy. Thankfully, she has her mom and older sisters to tell her all the things. 

Meanwhile, Carlin, Josie, and Katie (ages 19, 18, and 17) discuss motherhood as if it's light-years away. Now, only three years later, two of them are mommies and one is in a serious relationship. Things sure do change quickly!

 

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Wedding Episode Airs Tonight

In case you haven't heard, tonight is the Bringing Up Bates season eight finale. We know that this is sad news for our readers, but you can rest assured that another season is in the works. And tonight's Bringing Up Bates season finale will be one hour long and will feature Carlin and Evan's fairy tale wedding.

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

Practicing their dance moves

Carlin Bates and her bridesmaids

Ring bearers

 

Trace Bates and girlfriend Chaney

Bridesmaids

 

Carlin Bates (now Carlin Stewart) 

 

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Season Finale This Thursday

Gil Bates and Carlin Bates

"You look like a real princess. You are a princess."
-Gil Bates

This Thursday at 9pm ET/8pm CT, tune in to UPtv for the season finale of Bringing Up Bates season nine. It's the one-hour Bates/Stewart wedding episode--bring on the tears! In the sneak peek video below, Gil sees Carlin in her wedding dress for the first time.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Modeling and Moving In

Michaela Keilen, Kelly Bates, Erin Paine

 

Only one week to go until Carlin and Evan's wedding special! This Thursday on a new episode of Bringing Up Bates, the future Mr. and Mrs. Stewart set their house up, work on a duet for the ceremony, and pick up their marriage license. Meanwhile, Michael and Brandon settle into their Tennessee home, and Michael shares her nursing school plans. You'll also witness a photo shoot for the Bates Sisters Boutique.

Gil Bates, Carlin Bates, Evan Stewart

 

Lawson Bates and Gil Bates

 

Kelly Bates

 

Kelly Bates and Tori Smith

Thursday, November 14
7am ET: The Best is Yet to Come
9pm ET: Home is Where the Heart Is NEW!
As their wedding day gets closer and closer, Carlin and Evan get busy fixing up their future home. With all the unpacking, can they find the time to finish writing the duet they plan to sing at the ceremony, or will this turn into a musical disaster? Now that Michaella and Brandon have moved back to Tennessee, the eldest Bates daughter is anxious to settle into her new house. While the family helps her move in, Kelly Jo chats with Michaella about her nursing school plans. Meanwhile, Carlin, Whitney, and Erin have a photo shoot for their new dress business, and many of the Bates try their hand at modeling. And later, our busy bride checks off one last remaining item on her wedding to-do list, as she and Evan head to the courthouse to get their marriage license! 30 Minutes


Photos courtesy of UPtv

The Stewarts Settle In

 Evan and Carlin

"I don't even know how to cook. How am I supposed to know how to set this stuff up?"
-Carlin Bates (now Carlin Stewart)

In TV time, the wedding countdown has begun, and Carlin and Evan are rushing to get their house set up before the big day. But they have already received a ton of gifts, and finding places for all their new belongings proves to be a more difficult task than they had imagined.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Surprising Zach, Part 2

Carlin Bates, Gil Bates, Kelly Bates

 

Yesterday, we shared the Bringing Up Bates scene in which Whitney Bates tells Kelly Bates her exciting pregnancy news and asks her mother-in-law for help surprising Zach with the gender. Today's sneak peek scene shows Kelly making the big reveal, while most of the rest of the family looks on. Check it out below, and be sure to tune in tomorrow (Thursday) at 9pm ET/8pm CT for a new episode. We will post a written recap after the show.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Tonight: New Beginnings

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, it's all about new beginnings. Erin Paine, Whitney Bates, and Carlin Bates are getting ready to launch their online boutique, but there are a lot of tasks to check off their list before the webstore goes live.

Later, the Bates' new church building is finally complete, and they hold their special dedication service. The congregation is incredibly thankful for God's faithfulness throughout the project.

In TV time, it won't be long before Carlin and Evan say "I do," so it's time to gather their family and friends for a wedding shower. But the party quickly becomes emotional, as another Bates child will soon be leaving the nest.

With so many of her children entering adulthood and going out into the world, Kelly doesn't want to neglect the little ones who are still at home. She plans an outing for Addallee, Ellie, and Callie that won't quickly be forgotten. The show starts at 9pm ET/8pm CT, only on UPtv.

 Photos courtesy of UPtv

Bates #14 Turns 15

Isaiah Courage Bates, number 14 in the Bates family lineup, is 15 years old today. Happy birthday, Isaiah!

Isaiah Bates and Kaci Bates

April 2018

Isaiah Bates and Meema
December 2018

Isaiah Bates
November 2017

Carlin Bates, Isaiah Bates, Josie Bates, Lawson Bates

Easter 2016

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Dancing, Moving, and Designing

Gil and Kelly Bates

 

On tonight's new episode of Bringing Up Bates, "A Dance with Dad & a Wedding to Plan," Carlin and Gil head to a local dance studio for a lesson.

Gil Bates, Carlin Bates, Kelly Bates

 

Having a daddy-daughter dance at her wedding is Carlin's dream, and Gil wants to make it happen, even though the Bates don't dance. Kelly comes along for support and learns a few moves, as well.

When Michael and Brandon Keilen come to town to search for a place to live once they move back to East Tennessee, they visit a rental property with Gil and Kelly. 

Michael Keilen, Brandon Keilen, Kelly Bates, Gil Bates

And it's time for Carlin to choose a location for her May wedding, but making such a big decision is not an easy task for the bride-to-be. She tours a couple venues with Kelly, Erin, Whitney, and Everly.

 

Whitney Bates, Erin Paine, Everly Paine, Carlin Bates, Kelly Bates

The ladies try to envision Carlin's wedding and how it will look at the different venues. 

 

Kelly Bates, Carlin Bates, Whitney Bates

Also wanted to share the summaries for the next two new episodes of Bringing Up Bates:

Thursday, October 10, 9pm: A Baby Grand Plan
Carlin has the perfect wedding venue but needs to start nailing down all the details, including decorations and a game plan in case it rains on her special day. Later, her wedding dress has finally arrived, but when she tries it on, it is desperately in need of major alterations. Back in Nashville, Tori and Bobby are ready to move, but their tiny moving truck is no match for all of their belongings. Lucky for them, Gil is a master packer. Can he bring his expert skills to the rescue? And, with all the church renovations nearly complete, all that’s left is to set up the gorgeous new baby grand piano before the first service. 30 MINUTES 


Thursday, October 17, 9pm: Shall We Dance?
Erin and Chad are teaming up and combining skills to work on a project together. Erin’s interior design skills have been put to good use when it comes to her siblings’ homes, but does she have what it takes to renovate a baby room for a new client? Meanwhile, Kelton gets a glimpse into his future when he spends some time with Bobby and baby Kade. Will this “dad in training” master diaper duty? And in between earning her cosmetology degree, Katie’s also working on getting her pilot’s license. But when she’s up in the air, can she impress big brother Nathan with her in-flight training skills? And later, practice makes perfect. Gil, Kelly Jo, and Carlin have completed their first dance lesson, but now it’s time for Evan and Erin and Chad to join in on the fun! Can they keep up with the instructor’s smooth moves and learn a ballroom dance routine before the wedding date? 30 MINUTES

1st Bates Daddy-Daughter Dance

Gil Bates and Carlin Bates, dance lesson

 

"With dancing also comes bad chemistry that happens sometimes on the dance floor, so we never did the dance because it came with a lot of baggage, but this is not that kind of dancing."
-Gil Bates

What type of dancing is Carlin planning for the daddy-daughter dance at her wedding? She jokes that they are going to start with a slow dance and then "crank it up" (video preview below). You'll have to watch the show to see what happens. Tomorrow's new, 30-minute episode premieres at 9pm ET/8pm CT and will feature Carlin and Gil's dance lesson.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Knoxville or Nashville?

Carlin Bates (now Carlin Stewart)

"I don't mean to be selfish, but I just don't like my family moving to all ends of the earth. If I have to leave the county, you've gone too far."
-Zach Bates

Did you catch last night's episode? (Be sure to read our recap, posted last night.) While Carlin is in Nashville visiting Tori and trying on wedding dresses, she gives an update on the post-wedding plans that she and Evan are working out. They have pretty much nailed where they will live, and Tori and Lawson aren't excited about their decision (see web exclusive video below).

If you have been following the blog, you know the rest of the story. Carlin and Evan started fixing up their house, located in the Knoxville area, before the wedding. You can look forward to seeing footage on upcoming episodes of Bringing Up Bates.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

'A Blushing Bride to Be' Airs Tonight

Tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT, tune in to UPtv for an all-new, 30-minute episode of Bringing Up Bates, "A Blushing Bride to Be." Carlin goes wedding dress shopping in Nashville and is in for a big surprise when she finds out that the gown she has had her heart set on is blush instead of white. The Bates ladies also meet up with Lawson for an outing at Topgolf. Be sure to come back to our blog after the show for a recap. 

Erin Paine and Everly Paine

Lawson Bates and Kade Smith

Denese Stewart and Whitney Bates

Carlin Bates (now Carlin Stewart)

Carlin Bates

Carlin Bates

Bates and Stewart ladies

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Big Bates News x2

Carlin Stewart and Evan Stewart show off their ultrasound photo

It's been a little while (okay, not that long) since the Bates have made a big announcement. Don't you think it's time for another one? How about two big announcements?

Carlin Bates married Evan Stewart on May 25th, and this morning, the couple is thrilled to share with the world that they will soon be a family of three. That's right, Carlin is pregnant! Baby Stewart is scheduled to arrive in February 2020. Check out the announcement video below, and then keep reading for another reveal. More photos of the Stewarts with the first snapshot of their little one can be found on the UPtv website.


Are you ready for announcement #2? New episodes of Bringing Up Bates will return to UPtv on Thursday, September 19th, at 9pm ET/8pm CT!

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo credit: Darian Kaia

Bates Boutique Warehouse

Carlin Bates, Erin Paine, Whitney Bates

2018

The biggest news from the Bates these days is that the Bates Sisters Boutique now has a warehouse! (While they call it a warehouse, if you're picturing a 1-million-square-foot Amazon warehouse, scale that down by quite a bit--this warehouse is on the smaller side.)

The guys in the family, especially Chad, are still working on finishing it up, but we expect there to be pictures soon. In addition to storage space, the warehouse also has a spot for photo shoots, which will prevent Erin, Carlin, and Whitney from having to rent space to shoot photos.

Photo courtesy of Carlin Stewart

Stewarts' Honeymoon

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart have been Mr. and Mrs. Stewart for four days! According to the newlyweds, they are honeymooning at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Below is a new photo from their trip. Don't they just look thrilled to be married?

Carlin (Bates) Stewart and Evan Stewart

Photo courtesy of Carlin and Evan Stewart

Carlin's Rehearsal

The 7th Bates wedding day is almost here! In less than 24 hours, Carlin Bates will be Mrs. Evan Stewart. Family and close friends gathered at the venue earlier today for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. After the festivities, there was decorating and music practicing to be done. The ceremony will take place outside, and the reception will be outside, as well, although there will be a covered area. The Knoxville weather was about 91 and sunny today, and tomorrow will be the same.

Carlin Bates, Evan Stewart, Kelton Balka, Josie Balka

Ellie Bates, Tori Smith, Whitney Bates, Erin Paine,
Carlin Bates, Kelly Bates, Michael Keilen, Addallee Bates

Silly ring bearers

Photo courtesy of Kelton and Josie Balka, Carlin Bates

Bates/Stewart Wedding in 3 Days

Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

August 2018 (just weeks before their engagement)

Bates wedding #7 is just three days away! Carlin Bates (soon to be Carlin Stewart) and Evan Stewart have waited eight months for their big day, and it's almost here. The two will become husband and wife this Saturday. If you haven't seen their wedding party list, you can look back at our April 3rd post. Carlin will have her two business partners, Erin Paine and Whitney Bates, as her matrons of honor, while Evan's best man will be his brother, Ethan Stewart.

Carlin just graduated from college and has been very busy working for Bates Sisters Boutique and painting the house that she and Evan will live in (stay tuned for house pictures).

Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates

Carlin's College Grad Party

It feels like just yesterday that we were sharing news of Carlin Bates' high school graduation party, and now she's graduating college! She earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies, with an emphasis in music, religion, and sociology, from Liberty University. She began her post-secondary studies at Crown College and then transferred to the Liberty online program.

Some of the Bates gathered for a graduation party today. In just nine days, they will again gather to celebrate Carlin when she ties the knot with Evan Stewart. Congratulations, Carlin!

Kelly Bates and Carlin Bates

 

The Bates family at Carlin's college graduation party

Photos courtesy of Carlin Bates, chadanderin.com