Celebrating Alyssa and Kade

Happy "double Bates birthday" to Alyssa Webster and Kade Smith! Alyssa is 25, and Kade is one.

Tori (Bates) Smith, Bobby Smith, Kade Smith

 

John Webster, Allie Webster, Alyssa (Bates) Webster,

Lexi Webster, Allie Webster

Photos courtesy of UPtv, John and Alyssa Webster

Home from the hospital

Tori Smith, Bobby Smith, Kade Smith

"Of anything I've ever done to make my parents proud, I feel like this is the best thing I could possibly give them, the perfect little gift."
-Bobby Smith

"There's no words. It's the coolest thing ever, it's the happiest feeling ever. I'm totally running off adrenaline right now, and I just want to go show him off to everybody."
-Tori Bates Smith

Tori is giddy with excitement as she and Bobby arrive home from the hospital with newborn Kade. Bobby's family and Kelly stop by, and they all soak in Kade's first hours at home. Below is an extended scene from Thursday's mid-season finale.

Speaking of being home from the hospital, Alyssa Webster was discharged yesterday after her heart procedure on Thursday. 

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Watch Kade's Arrival

This Thursday, tune in for an exciting, new episode of Bringing Up Bates.

First, the Bates guys surprise Zach Bates with an adventure-packed 30th birthday celebration. And later, Tori Bates Smith goes into labor. You'll be laughing out loud as you watch Gil, Lawson, Carlin, Erin, and Everly try to make it to Nashville in time for the birth. Erin brings her best look for the occasion.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

2 Bates Daughters Move Home

Tori Bates Smith and Bobby Smith move back to Knoxville

Have you heard the exciting Bates news? Michaela and Brandon Keilen are relocating to East Tennessee! (Michaela also has an announcement regarding her career plans, which you can read about in the post we published earlier today.)

And guess what? Another Bates daughter is moving home, as well. Tori, Bobby, and almost-five-month-old Kade have left Nashville. Less than one year ago, the Bates family transported all their belongings three hours west. And they just moved them back. Kelly is thrilled to have two of her daughters back in the Knoxville/Rocky Top area.

East Tennessee is home for Michaela and Tori, but it isn't where their husbands hail from. Bobby is from Florida, while Brandon's family lives in Michigan. 

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Tonight: Nashville Nursery Makeover

Tonight (9pm ET/8pm CT) on an all-new episode of Bringing Up Bates, a handful of Bates travel to Nashville to help Tori Smith decorate Kade's nursery.

Bradley Bates and Carson Paine

 

They stop at a local thrift store to buy a few items, but they come out with multiple carts of decorations, clothing, and toys.

Whitney Bates and Tori Bates Smith

Everyone plays a part in decorating the nursery, even the little kids. The Bates are very confident in Erin's ability to transform the empty bedroom into a baby room, although they admit that they are a little uncertain about her idea for an accent wall. Tune in to see the finished product!

Zach Bates, Kaci Bates, Bradley Bates

 

Also on tonight's show, we see a glimpse of Katie at cosmetology school. What happened to her goal of studying nursing? You might be surprised at what her plan is...

Katie Bates

Photos courtesy of UPtv

Tori is 'Terrified out of [Her] Mind'

"It's really nice having sisters that have had multiple babies, as well as my mom who had a trillion. Me going through it the first time, I'm terrified out of my mind, but being able to call them up...is kind of awesome."

-Tori (Bates) Smith

In real time, Kade Smith is four months old, but in TV time, he is about to make his grand debut. Tori, who admits she is nervous, has a conversation with mama Kelly, sister Erin Paine, and sister-in-law Whitney Bates (video below). Between the three of them, they have delivered 24 babies, so they have a lot of expertise for Tori to draw on. 

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

A Shower and a Honeymoon

Josie and Kelton Balka, honeymoon in the Smokies

 

After Josie and Kelton's wedding, the couple embarked on their honeymoon, which they spent both in the Smoky Mountains and the Bahamas. Meanwhile, the rest of the Bates spent the rest of the weekend together before the Websters returned to Florida and the Keilens went home to Chicago.

Included in the weekend festivities was a baby shower for Tori Bates Smith. Both the honeymoon and the shower will be part of tomorrow's new episode of Bringing Up Bates. To get you pumped for the show, here are a few snapshots.

Josie and Kelton

Josie (Bates) Balka and Kelton Balka

 

Carlin Bates, Michael Bates Keilen, Whitney Bates, Kaci Bates

Tori Bates Smith, Alyssa Bates Webster, Erin Bates Paine

The Websters

Tori Smith and Carson Paine

 

Kelly Bates and Erin Paine

 

Photos courtesy of UPtv

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

More Bates Christmas 2018 Pics

Yesterday, we shared a photo of Whitney and Kaci Bates that was taken this weekend during the Bates' Christmas extravaganza. We have a few more pictures to share, pasted below, from their family gathering. Everyone had a blast.

Erin Bates Paine, Papa Bill, Tori Bates Smith

 

"Twins" Katie Bates (18) and Erin Bates Paine (27)

Tori Smith, Kelly Bates, Lexi Webster, Erin Paine, Michael Keilen

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

Photos courtesy of chadanderin.com, Katie Bates/thebatesfamily.com

Kade's Newborn Photos

Bobby Smith, Tori Bates Smith, Kade Smith

 

Kade Smith was born on November 9th, which means he will be five weeks old tomorrow. Two weeks after he arrived, Taryn Yager traveled to Tori and Bobby's apartment home in Nashville to take photos of the family of three.

Taryn is a Knoxville-based photographer who specializes in newborns, children, families, and baby bumps. She is a friend of the Bates and has been featured on Bringing Up Bates.

Bobby Smith (Robert Ellis Smith III) and Kade Smith (Robert Ellis Smith IV)

 

Kade Smith

Photos courtesy of TarynYagerPhotography.com

Smith Family, Part of 3

Tori Smith, Bobby Smith, Robert "Kade" Ellis Smith IV

Tori and Bobby Smith are still on cloud nine after the arrival of their first child, Kade Smith. We posted a few unofficial snapshots from Bates family members earlier this week, but UPtv has just shared its official baby announcement and photos.

When a new Bates grandchild is added to the fold, proud grandparents Gil and Kelly Bates are never far away. They were eager to visit the family of three at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville.

We know you are all eager to hear the details of the birth, but those have not yet been released. The Smiths' plan was to deliver in one of the hospital's state-of-the-art birthing center rooms under the care of a doctor. However, the final decision on whether a candidate qualifies for the birthing center or must utilize one of the regular labor and delivery rooms is made by hospital staff once labor has begun, based on availability and medical requirements. Additional photos can be found on the UPtv website.

Gil Bates, Tori (Bates) Smith, Kade Smith, Bobby Smith, Kelly Bates

Photos courtesy of UPtv

First Photos of Kade

In case you haven't heard, Kade Smith is here! Details on his November 9th arrival can be found in the post we shared earlier today. Below are a few snapshots of the 9th Bates grandchild. He is only three days old and has already had plenty of visitors.

Evan Stewart, Carlin Bates, Tori Smith, Kade Smith, Bobby Smith

Robert Ellis Smith IV (aka Kade)

Tori (Bates) Smith and Kade Smith

Photos courtesy of Tori and Bobby Smith; thebatesfamily.com; Carlin Bates

Bates/Balka Wedding Photos

Josie's dream of a fall wedding has been fulfilled. She and Kelton tied the knot yesterday afternoon at Cove Lake State Park near Knoxville, Tennessee. The backdrop for the ceremony was a lake and the Smoky Mountains.

Many of the Bates siblings were part of the wedding party. Tori Bates Smith played violin, Erin Bates Paine played keyboard, and Lawson Bates performed an original song called "Crazy Love." The ceremony lasted 30 minutes and opened with a prayer by Kelton's father, who has faithfully prayed for Kelton every night.

The wedding colors were burgundy and "blush," according to Erin. Approximately 500 guests attended. The couple's getaway car was a Lexus GX470 SUV. Below are a handful of photos from their special day.

 Wedding flowers

The Bates siblings

Bates/Balka wedding party

 Josie and Kelton's guestbook

Josie Bates and Kelton Balka wedding

Josie and Kelton Balka

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

For photos of the ring bearers and flower girls, check out our post from earlier today. More wedding photos can be found on the UPtv website.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Moser Photography; UPtv

Tori's 30-Week Baby Bump

Tori Bates Smith is approaching the 31-week mark in her pregnancy. Robert Ellis Smith IV is due November 24th. Tori and Bobby have chosen to call him Kade because they say it is Latin for "fourth generation."

Unlike her sisters, Tori has not shared many details about her pregnancy. During a recent visit with the family in Rocky Top, this photo was taken. The siblings are all eager to feel the baby move!

Tori Bates Smith

Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

Meet Baby Smith

"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."
-Bobby Smith

Tomorrow on an all-new episode of Bringing Up Bates, Tori and Bobby Smith meet their son for the first time during an ultrasound performed at eight weeks (video below). In real time, Tori is approaching the 27-week mark, which means she will soon be in her third trimester.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Presents for the Bates College Grads

"Mom wanted me to get you all graduation presents...I said, 'I thought paying for college was enough for a present.'"
-Gil Bates

Tomorrow on Bringing Up Bates, watch Tori Bates Smith, Trace Bates, and Josie Bates celebrate their college graduations. In this video, Kelly, who was able to talk Gil into giving the kids presents, praises each child for a job well done.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Babies, Babies, Babies

Carlin Bates: "They say when you actually get pregnant, the whole mommy deal comes on you like that."

Josie Bates: "You can be next."

Carlin Bates: "I'll let you."

The minute Tori (Bates) Smith announces she's expecting, the talk immediately turns to babies. Has she had her first appointment? Has morning sickness started? Is she planning on asking for an epidural during delivery? Hold up, folks! She's only five weeks along.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Baby Smith's Gender Reveal

Bobby Smith and Tori (Bates) Smith

It's time to find out whether Tori and Bobby will be busting out the pink or blue when their first child arrives in November. They recently announced the news to family and close friends, and now they're ready to share it with viewers in the video below. They have also chosen a name!

Gil and Kelly Bates currently have two grandsons and six granddaughters, so a boy would certainly help balance the numbers out. Let's see what the Smiths have to say. If you are unable to watch the clip from UP, scroll down past the video, and you can read the announcement.

It's a boy! Tori and Bobby have chosen the name Robert Ellis Smith IV. (Bobby's given name is Robert Ellis Smith III.) The couple told Entertainment Tonight that their son's nickname will be Kade.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

The Smiths' New Home

Bobby Smith: "Before we got married, I was really trying to do everything I could to start making it kind of like a home for us."

Tori (Bates) Smith: "It was definitely a bachelor's apartment."

The Bates' work has paid off! While Tori and Bobby are on their honeymoon, Gil, Kelly, Erin, and some of the other Bates girls sneak into their apartment to decorate. When the newlyweds return, they are stunned. Watch their reactions in the video below.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Next Stop: Honeymoon!

"There's so many of y'all!"
-Tori (Bates) Smith

Only three days to go until the all-new episode featuring the Smiths' honeymoon and Josie Bates' courtship proposal airs on UP! Below is a preview video that will have 19 additional seconds added to it each day.

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

Photo/video courtesy of UP