Bates #10 Turns 22

Two, four, six....

This month, the Bates have birthdays to celebrate on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th. Callie Bates is 12, Josie Balka is 22, and Brooklyn Paine is five. Happy birthday to Josie!

 

Kelton Balka and Josie (Bates) Balka

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Bates #10 Turns 20

Wishing Josie Balka a very happy 20th birthday!

Josie Bates

Bates family vacation 2007

 

Josie and Kelton Balka 2019

 

Josie Balka, Willow Balka, Kelton Balka

July 2019

Photos courtesy of tarynyagerphotography.com, thebatesfamily.com, Josie and Kelton Balka

Welcome, Willow Balka!

The 10th Bates grandchild has arrived safe and sound. Josie (Bates) Balka delivered Willow Kristy Balka this morning, July 19th, at 2:23am. Willow weighed 6lbs 10oz and was 19 inches long.

Today, Felicity Vuolo, daughter of Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo, is celebrating her 1st birthday.

Josie Balka, Kelton Balka, Willow Kristy Balka

Photo courtesy of UPtv, the Bates family

Josie at 25 Weeks

Josie is 25 weeks pregnant with Baby Balka, due July 25th! She and Kelton announced the gender and name last month. In case you missed it, it's a girl, and her name will be Willow Kristy Balka. The photo below was taken in Charleston, South Carolina. Josie and Kelton took a long weekend "babymoon" trip this past weekend.

Josie Bates Balka, 25 weeks pregnant

April 2019

Photo courtesy of Josie and Kelton Balka

Balka Baby Guesses

Josie Bates Balka and Kelton Balka

As we shared last week, Josie and Kelton Balka are gearing up to announce the gender, and likely the name, of their baby to the public very soon. What do you think it will be? And what "type" of name do you predict they will choose? Will choose something from the Bible, or will they go with a very traditional name that is back in vogue, like Bryon or Iris? Or do you see them going "royal" with a name like William or Catherine? Josie's middle name is Kellyn, and Kelton's is Edward.

Photo courtesy of Josie and Kelton Balka

Josie's Tiny Baby Bump

Josie Bates Balka, 17 weeks pregnant

Josie Balka is 18 weeks pregnant, which means that Baby Balka is due in late July 2019. Like her sisters, Josie is a petite woman and has a petite baby bump. For reference, we have included photos of Alyssa and Erin's bumps.

Josie and Kelton announced the gender of their baby to the family last weekend but have not shared it with the public.

Alyssa Bates Webster, 28 weeks pregnant with Allie Webster

Erin Bates Paine, 23 weeks pregnant with Everly Paine

Photos courtesy of Josie and Kelton Balka, Alyssa and John Webster, chadanderin.com

Wedding Dress Shopping with Carlin

Katie Bates, Brittany Randolph, Kelly Bates, Josie Bates Balka,

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

Ashley Sparkman, Tori Bates Smith, Kade Smith, Meagan Stewart, Denese Stewart

Missing: Evan's sister Kailyn, who was sick

Carlin has her wedding dress! She and Evan are counting down the days until their May 25th nuptials, and they just checked a big item off the to-do list. Carlin gathered at The Bride Room in Nashville with her female relatives and relatives-to-be to choose her gown, which is from the Italian designer Nicole Spose. When it comes to wedding dresses, the Bates sisters all have their own unique styles. What type of gown do you think Carlin has chosen?

While they were in Nashville, the group also enjoyed some time at Top Golf with Lawson and Evan.

Photo courtesy of Carlin Bates/thebatesfamily.com

Josie on Being Home Alone

Josie Bates Balka, Lawson Bates, Kelton Balka

Josie admits that she has a lot of fears, and husband Kelton knows exactly what they are. One of them involves being home alone, which makes sense, considering that she comes from a house full of people where alone time is rare. The video below will give you an idea of the format for tomorrow's new episode. You'll watch the married Bates, both the "newlyweds" and "oldly-weds," compete to see how well they know their spouses.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Katie is [Finally] an Adult

"I'm officially adulting. I mean, so many things come out of this. I'm adulting because I'm 18 years old."

-Katie Bates

Katie Bates is thrilled to be 18 years old. While some people say they don't feel any different when they enter adulthood, Katie thinks it's just about the best thing ever (video below). She is currently pursuing cosmetology, just like older sister Josie (Bates) Balka. Did you feel like your 18th birthday was a big milestone?

Missed yesterday's episode? Check out our recap!


Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Josie and Katie

Josie (Bates) Balka and Katie Bates

 

With Josie Bates Balka married and gone and Carlin Bates' wedding coming up on May 25th, 18-year-old Katie Bates will soon be the oldest Bates sister at home. When Carlin ties the knot, there will be 7 Bates siblings married and 12 still living at home.

Photo courtesy of Katie Bates/thebatesfamily.com

More Bates/Balka Wedding Photos

Don't you just love weddings? Josie Bates was a beautiful bride, and she chose classy outfits and decor. Below are a few more snapshots from the day, including photos of both Gil and Kelly, as requested by our readers.

Josie (Bates) Balka and Trace Bates

 

Carlin Bates (soon to be Carlin Stewart) and Evan Stewart

 

Kelly Bates and Evan Stewart

 

Josie (Bates) Balka and Gil Bates

Photos courtesy of Trace Bates, Carlin Bates, UPtv