'A Baby Grand Plan' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Baby Grand Plan"

• Kelly, Carlin, Erin, Carson, and Everly go back to Castleton Farms, the wedding venue that Carlin has chosen. They bring Kim, the Bates’ trusty wedding coordinator. The venue owners were able to work out a price that the Bates can afford.
• “My biggest question is always the one that Carlin doesn’t want me to ask,” says Kelly. “What about the rain? Is there a backup plan?” The woman giving the tour assures them that the venue has two indoor spaces.
• “The thing that I’m most excited about…is seeing my little girl’s dreams come true,” Kelly says, tearing up.
• Gil and Kelly arrive to help Tori and Bobby pack up their Nashville apartment. “I am super excited about moving back with the family and being around them,” says Tori. “I miss them, and a lot is going on right now, and I was missing out on all of it.”
• “We have always dreamed that our children would live close to us, and we’re getting the news that three out of the four out-of-town couples may be coming home, and my heart is just full,” says Kelly. “I’m looking forward to some one-on-one granny time with Kade.”
• “The year that God gave us in Nashville was absolutely incredible,” says Bobby. “My number one goal is to be just everything I can for my wife and my little boy and the family that God has given us.”
• When Gil brings the 16-foot, do-it-yourself moving truck that the Smiths have reserved, some of the family members think it’s way too small, and others think there will be plenty of space. Gil, the master-packer who used to work at UPS, gets to work. “We have a secret weapon,” says Bobby, referring to Gil.
• Gil starts to doubt himself, but he successfully fits everything in the truck…barely.
• Later, Gil and some of the kids show off the new church building, which is almost ready for services. “Music has always played a huge part in my family, and for Dad’s church, the piano really is his number one instrument right now,” says Erin.
• Everyone is thrilled when piano movers deliver the baby grand that Gil chose for the church. “It’s exactly the one we’ve been praying for for like six years,” he says. Gil tears up as Callie plays a beautiful song. He leads the kids in a prayer thanking God for the instrument and asking Him to use it for His glory.
• Erin was previously the church pianist, but she now plays for another church. Carlin has filled the role, and Kelly hopes that she will pass the torch to Callie one day.
• Carlin, along with some of the girls, go up to Kentucky to have Renee alter her wedding dress.
• “You would think that when a girl finds her dream dress, that, hey it’s the dream dress, it’s perfect, but along with that comes alterations and fixing things and changing things” says Whitney. “If it doesn’t fit just right, it just doesn’t work, and guys don’t understand that.”
• “Take that same statement and substitute dress for husband,” says Zach, chuckling. “Get ready, Evan!”

'A Dance With Dad & A Wedding to Plan' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Dance With Dad & A Wedding to Plan"

• Carlin, Kelly, Erin, Everly, and Whitney are searching for a wedding venue for Carlin and Evan. They are planning for 600-800, with the potential of up to 1,000 guests. They visit Whitestone Inn, which is where Chad proposed to Erin. Carlin loves it and is ready to commit, but after visiting Castleton Farms, she starts imagining having her wedding there. Vineyards, white pillars, and fancy stairs—it’s absolutely beautiful.
• Back at the house, Gil, Zach, Nathan, and some of the kids assemble a doghouse that they purchased for their new dog, JJ (Johnny Jr). The project takes only 35 minutes, and the dog loves his new house.
• Next up is Carlin’s dance lesson with Gil, in preparation for the daddy-daughter dance that she wants to have at her wedding. “So Carlin actually convinced Dad to go to dance lessons,” says Erin. “I do not know how she did that.”
• Carlin jokes that they are going to start with a slow dance and then “crank it up.” Of course that’s not going to happen on Gil’s watch. “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,” explains Gil. Did you know that the Bates dad was prom king in high school?
• “In past years, we avoided all dancing,” says Kelly. “Carin has assured us, she just wants this to be a wholesome, very thoughtful type of dance. And the more she talked about it, the more we want her to have her dreams.”
• “Growing up, we did not do dancing,” says Zach. “I think Mom and Dad are really excited for it, and it’s interesting how the family’s evolved.”
• Kelly accompanies Gil and Carlin to their dance lesson at Dance Tonight. Kelly says she is picturing what she calls a flowy “Ginger Rogers” dance. During the lesson, Gil dances with Carlin, while Kelly dances with the instructor. “I’m not a person with a lot of rhythm,” admits Gil. “I don’t’ want to be the double left-footed guy out there.”
• But Gil is determined to get the hang of it. “If it makes her feel that special, it’s worth trying to do it,” says the father of the bride. “I want it to be a special day.”
• Later, Michael and Brandon, along with Gil and Kelly, visit a rental house, owned by a friend and located in the town of Norris. “It’s been a matter of prayer for several months now, the potential of us moving home for me to go back to school,” says Michael.
• The house is a lot smaller than the place they are moving from in Chicago. “It’s definitely a downsize,” says Brandon. “Cute little place, but it’s definitely smaller.” It’s a great area, though. The Keilens are hoping to move by May, which is only a couple months away.
• “My heart is just so full now right now because my little girl is going to be coming home,” says Kelly.