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: "Training Up Bates"

This week on Bringing Up Bates, "Training Up Bates"...

• Gil and Kelly and 11 of the kids are headed to North Carolina to visit Kelly's mom, whom the children call Meema, and her three sisters, Kim, Beth, and Becca. Kelly helps the kids pack.
• To prepare for the trip, Gil and Kelly practice child training with the youngest ones.
• "Every once in a while, we will go somewhere out in public, and we'll realize, 'You know, we haven't spent quite as much time training the little guys,' because you forget, you get distracted," says Kelly.
• The older Bates kids say their parents have become less strict over the years. Kelly says it's because they know they might not have any more children, so they want to spoil the youngest ones. Gil says it's because they are tired.
• The kids practice "training up," which means standing in a line from youngest to oldest. 
• "Do your training during a time that is non-confrontational," says Gil. "Don't do your training when you get in the situation." 
• The 13 Bates pile into the van and head to North Carolina. "Nobody else is as blessed as I am," Meema says when they arrive at her house. "I don't know of a grandmother that has 33 grandchildren."
• The following day, the Bates visit Aunt Kim's flower shop. "Aunt Kim is like super amazing at crafts," says Josie. Kim and the kids make a banner for Bradley's nursery.
• "Jeb in the florist's is like what real life is like," says Gil. The two-year-old struggles to obey the "don't touch" rule and has to be pulled aside by Mom several times. 
• "Some people call it the 'terrible twos,"' says Kelly. "We call it the 'terrific twos,' but whatever you call it, the two age can be full of energy."
• Later, the Bates stop by a consignment store in search of clothing and toys that are 50% and 75% off. Their grand total is $329.30, which may sound like a lot, but Gil says they paid about $1,000 less than they would have if the items had been brand new.
• Back in Tennessee, Michaella, who is a full-time nanny, babysits two little boys. She says she wants as many children as she can have.
• "I'll probably be very strict with my children," says Michaella. "I was very grateful to have been raised that way. I loved the boundaries that my parents set, and I felt like I matured a lot faster because of it."
• When is Brandon planning to propose? "I don't see it being in the very near future, but he's full of surprises, so I honestly don't know," says Michaella. Her boyfriend is graduating from college soon but has liquidated his savings to pay for school. He wants to be more financially stable before he marries Michaella.
• Erin thinks she is pregnant, so she and Chad, who recently went through a miscarriage, head back to Dr. Vick's office to see if they are indeed expecting.
• "I was scared just because of all the memories of the last ultrasounds we had had," says Erin.
• When the ultrasound technician detects a heartbeat, Erin and Chad are elated. "I couldn't stop smiling, just cause everything was positive," says Erin. "It was just like, 'I've got a baby inside me, and his heart's beating.' I couldn't believe it."
• Since Erin has a blood clotting disorder, she has to take a heparin shot twice a day throughout her pregnancy. The doctor shows Chad how to administer the shot. Erin, who dreads needles, is nervous, but she says it will all be worth it when she holds the baby in her arms.  

Recap: "Courtship & Marriage"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "Courtship & Marriage"...

• Gil and Kelly Bates understand that as their kids grow older, they are going to cut their own trails.
• "I think all of our children are going to make choices that maybe we didn't make," says Kelly. "But I think the core values, in spite of the little differences, are the same."
• For example, Zach and Whitney say they plan to let Bradley watch Pooh Bear, even though Zach's parents hardly allow their kids to watch any TV.
• Erin, who lives only a few miles away from her family, has Callie, Ellie, and Warden over for a sleepover. "It gets lonely," admits Erin. "I'm not used to being by myself, and I really don't like it."
• Chad returns home from work, and he and Erin share a hug and a kiss. Chad joins Erin and the kids in the kitchen as they finish making dinner. As part of the meal, Erin serves steamed broccoli, but her siblings aren't thrilled about trying it.
• Now that she is married, Erin has adopted a healthier lifestyle. "I have to be honest," she says. "My family tries to eat healthy." But with 19 kids, it isn't easy, especially since Kelly grew up on TV dinners.
• In Florida, Alyssa and John also live a quiet life as newlyweds. Alyssa misses her family but is able to chat with them often.
• "It is terribly hard having Alyssa in Florida because I always want to go see her," says Gil.
• Back at the Bates house, Michaella packs for a trip to see her boyfriend, Brandon, who is away at Bible college in Texas. Gil prays with his daughter before taking her to the airport.
• Michaella is chaperoned by her friend, Amber. She and Brandon share a few heartfelt hugs when Michaella arrives. Brandon is thrilled to see his girlfriend. He had no idea she was coming to visit.
• Gil and Kelly discuss courtship standards. "We as parents set general parameters," says Kelly. They instruct their children to keep Christ at the center of their relationships and to remain pure. They would like each of their kids to save their first kiss for their wedding because they know that kissing in private can lead to other temptations.
• Gil and Kelly admit that they did not save their first kiss for their wedding. Zach and Whitney intended to but ended up kissing beforehand. They say their parents were very understanding when they admitted what they had done. Zach and Whitney encourage their siblings not to follow in their footsteps.
• Michaella and Brandon plan to save their first kiss for their wedding, but they exchange frontal hugs when they greet each other and say goodbye.
• Zach accompanies Whitney to her last doctor appointment before Bradley's birth. The couple is able to see a clear picture of Bradley's face on the ultrasound.
• Erin and Chad visit a doctor to attempt to find out why they have not been able to sustain a pregnancy. He runs tests and instructs Erin to take an aspirin each day, as well as extra folic acid. Erin and Chad are thrilled to have a remedy to try, and they both give the doctor a hug before leaving.
• "...We are very hopeful for the future," says Chad.