'A Busy Business and a Baby Bombshell' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Busy Business and a Baby Bombshell"

• Erin and Chad have an ultrasound to check on their baby girl, Holland Grace Paine. As they have done for their past three children, Erin has chosen the first name, and Chad has picked the middle name. Erin is 22 weeks and five days pregnant. “I think with every pregnancy, there is still a fear,” says Chad. “You know you start having thoughts and flashbacks from the past, and so hearing the heartbeat and seeing the baby’s okay, it’s a great peace of mind every time.”
• “Every day, I feel like we live the most special life,” says Erin. “I love my life, I love our family, and I’m excited about how it’s going to change when we get another baby.”
• “One, I think we’re crazy, but then two, every time I think about a new little baby, I get just as excited as the one before,” says Chad. “Your heart just grows…as the children keep coming, and I love it.”
• Michael arrives at Crown College Cosmetology School to have Katie put caramel highlights in the back section of her hair, so she can look fancy when she puts her hair up for nursing school. Katie is in her last semester and is studying for her state boards.\
• “Originally, I had always wanted to do nursing school. But cosmetology, I actually loved it a lot more than I thought, so I would like to purse cosmetology for a little bit after graduating and just work in a salon for a little bit and get the feel for it. And I would still love to do nursing school, but for now I’m focusing on the cosmetology.”
• Michael will earn her LPN in 11 months and will likely continue on to pursue her RN, depending on circumstances. “I don’t exactly know what field I want to be in with nursing,” says Michael. “I’m hoping through clinicals and just being in the field that I’ll kind of find my niche.” She says that she and Brandon do not plan on moving back to Chicago but that there is a chance they will move somewhere else. They aren’t sure this point.
• During Michael’s hair appointment, Katie spills the beans about the special someone with whom she has been talking for two months. “We’re both 18,” says Katie. “It’s really young and I need all of the adult mind maturing. We’ll see. We’re taking it slow. I don’t want to rush into any relationship. I’m just trying to finish my school and get it together.” 
• Travis sings, is from New Jersey, and is starting college. Katie met him through a mutual friend. “He’s like the sweetest human ever, and like the most thoughtful person,” says Katie. “I’m obsessed.”
• Towards the end of the appointment, Katie makes a small mistake. “Some toner got in my eye, and it stung a little, but that’s part of the learning process, and I look back so grateful for all of my patients who let me learn IVs on them and give shots.” says Michael. She is very happy with her hair, and Brandon loves it, too.
• Later, Michael and Brandon help Erin, Whitney, and Carlin unpack a new shipment of dresses. The boxes are taking over Whitney’s house, so they are currently building a small warehouse on Zach and Whitney’s property. “Now that we’ve started this dress boutique, I really think y’all should have called it just Bates and Company because y’all have pretty much hired everybody in the family to work for y’all,” says Zach.
• The Bates family gathers at a local park to grill and hang out. Zach is the new grill master, and he attempts to give Gil some pointers. “Let’s just say, these boys get married, and they think they know everything,” says Gil. “Zach is trying to tell me how to cook.” The rest of the family agrees that Gil’s grill skills aren’t the greatest.
• Evan brings out a pinata to celebrate the August birthdays, but he has forgotten to bring a bat and string. The kids take turns kicking it while Nathan holds it. When the pinata breaks, candy and tiny baby figurines fall out. “It’s pretty crazy,” says Carlin. “I’m still a little shocked.” She and Evan found out that they were expecting the day before Father's Day.
• “Are you ready to be a mom?” jokes Gil.

'A First Time for Everything' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A First Time for Everything"

• As season nine kicks off, Carlin and Evan have just celebrated their wedding. “It brought me so much joy to see her so happy,” says Michael.
• The newlyweds arrive in Charleston, South Carolina. “I feel like I’m living a piece of heaven,” says Carlin, as she and Evan get ready to take a carriage ride. Later, they eat at a rooftop restaurant with a beautiful view of the city. When the waitress brings mocktails, Carlin confirms that they are nonalcoholic.
• While in Charleston, the newlyweds go 'Casual Crabbing with Tia.' “He’s taking me out of my comfort zone,” says Carlin of Evan. “Holding a crab, it’s just one of those things I have to warm up to.” They compete in a competition, which Evan wins.
• Carlin and Evan enjoy a private sailboat ride, during which they take a “Titanic” photo. “I’ve always wanted to have that Titanic moment,” says Carlin. “It’s like a dream come true.”
• Back in Tennessee, Trace’s friend Chaney arrives with her family to spend time with the Bates. (Trace and Chaney have since broken up, but this episode was filmed while they were still in a relationship.) Chaney Kahle is one of seven children, and the Kahles are fellow homeschoolers and fellow Christians.
• The group plays bocce ball. “Trace is by far one of the more athletically talented Bates,” says Lawson. Chaney is also athletic. “Praise the Lord,” says Katie. “Finally, a Bates boy has got a girl. It has been way too long. I am so proud of you.”
• Zach and Whitney and their two kids check in on Khloe during an ultrasound. “She’s always moving,” says Zach. “She’s always kicking around.”
• Later, Kelly comes over to help Josie pack her hospital bag. “There’s not like brownie points for whether you do it natural or not natural,” says the mom of 19. “And don’t feel bad or pressured to do anything just because people are saying, ‘Well I did this’ or ‘You should do this.’ Just be you.” Josie agrees that she will not feel bad about getting an epidural if she needs it. 
• Kelly and Josie join the rest of the Bates ladies for lunch, and Josie goes through her birth plan. Josie’s birth team will consist of Kelton, Kelly, and a doula. Erin’s conversation with Chad about doulas is priceless.
• Erin: “Doesn’t a doula do just what the husband usually does? I think [Chad’s] my doula, right? I thought doulas are girls.”
• Chad: “Well this one ain’t.”
• Erin: “Well you’re a good-looking doula.”
• Kelton and Josie meet with their doula, Renee Dudley, to discuss the stages of labor and positions. “I think the most shocking part to Kelton was, he didn’t realize it was more than like two or three hours,” says Josie. “He didn’t realize it was an all-day thing.”
• “My mom made pregnancy and labor and delivery all look so easy, and now that I’m here, it is a lot harder,” says Josie.
• “I’m a little terrified still, but I’m ready,” says Kelton. “I’m really excited about it.”
• Josie’s labor beings. She and Kelton choose not to have the film crew or other family members (aside from Kelly) present. After about 36 hours, the medical providers urge Josie to either have her water broken, take Pitocin, or get an epidural.
• Josie ends up getting an epidural. “The epidural was one of the scariest parts for me because that was one of the factors that actually resulted in them not being able to catch signs that led to my mother’s death,” says Kelton.
• “Me and Mr. Balka were out in the hallway, in the waiting room,” says Gil. “I know Kelton was nervous. I know Mr. Balka was nervous, having the last labor he was ever at was when his wife went to be with the Lord.”
• After her epidural, Josie is able to close her eyes and relax. After 48 hours of labor, she delivers Willow Kristy Balka. “It’s amazing to watch your child grow up and [have] a little baby,” says Gil.
• Before they know it, the Balka family of three is back home and adjusting to their new life. Gil and Kelly and several of the kids come by the apartment to say hi.
• “When I saw Zach hold Willow, it was like, holy cow,” says Whitney. “I fell in love all over again. I just love him with a newborn, and I just can’t wait to have a newborn again in our house.” “I think that’s how we ended up with this baby, is Whitney went and held somebody’s baby,” says Zach, laughing.
• Josie and Kelton are about to close on their first house, and they will need all hands on deck to help them get it ready for move-in.  

Carlin's Visitor

This week, Carlin had a short visit from her best friend, Joy-Anna (Duggar) Forsyth. Joy traveled from Northwest Arkansas to East Tennessee to meet Layla, who is almost three weeks old. You can see a photo of the two besties with Layla on our blog about the Duggar family.

'A Wedding Worth the Wait' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Wedding Worth the Wait"

• The wedding is almost here! Carlin and Evan are practicing their first dance, to a song that Lawson wrote. “I had never imagined that this could just get this complicated,” Lawson says of the dance steps.
• “I’m thinking y’all are going to need a lot more practice before Saturday,” says Trace, chuckling.
• “I feel like, if you stumble and mess up the whole dance but you get the ending right, it’s okay,” says Carlin.
  Carlin arrives at the nail salon with her best friend, Joy (Duggar) Forsyth. “My friendship with Joy is just such a treasure to me,” says Carlin. “So for her to be here is just so sweet, to spend that last bit of time single with your best friend.”Erin and Tori, who are also bridesmaids, arrive soon after.
  “Carlin is so sweet,” says Erin. “I think she’s pretty much asked my opinion about every little detail about her wedding, which makes me feel so honored and special. I feel like, ‘Wow, I’m getting to kind of redo my wedding in a way and change up all my choices.’” Chad laughs.
• It’s 94 degrees during the rehearsal. Carlin’s wedding Bates party is the largest so far, with 12 bridesmaids and 12 groomsmen.
• As the couple stands before Gil, one of the two officiants, he encourages them to stand close. Carlin puts her arm around Evan’s neck, but Gil puts the kibosh on that. “Hey, hey, woah, no, we’re not into that!” he exclaims. “You’ve got 23 more hours and 27 minutes.”
• After the rehearsal, everyone is eager to get to the rehearsal dinner, which is in an air-conditioned building. The Stewarts have done an amazing job. Carlin stands up and shares heart-felt words of gratitude with her parents and siblings. Evan does the same. “I thought Carlin’s speech was wonderful,” says Lawson. “…It really just shows how close everybody is and how many memories there are.”
• On the day of the wedding, all the ladies get ready together, while the groomsmen quickly put their clothes on and then enjoy refreshments and games in a room at the venue.
• During pictures, Callie breaks down. “On the day of the wedding, it just starts dawning on me that they’re leaving for good,” says Callie. Carlin gives her a big hug.
• Another emotional moment comes when Gil sees Carlin in her dress for the first time. The bride gives her dad a tie with the inscription, ‘I’ll always be your little girl.’
• Just before Carlin walks down the aisle, Erin and Whitney pray with her. “I don’t thing [Carlin] could have picked a more perfect place for her and Evan to have their day at,” says Lawson.
• Evan sees the dress for the first time when Carlin walks down the aisle, and he gets quite emotional.
• “It’s a hot day, so I have been informed that my charge needs to be short and sweet,” says Gil during the ceremony. At the altar, he reminds Carlin and Evan to cherish each other and not to let anything come between them. “Carlin, you treat this man like he’s Superman, and he will be Superman,” encourages Gil. “The more you brag on him, they better he’ll get. It just works for all guys. You tell them they’re good, even if they can’t fix anything…they’ll find out how to do it. They want to be your hero.”
• The couple exchanges traditional vows. When it’s time to sing the duet, they pull it off beautifully. “Baby I’m going to show you, with every step that I take, all of my ‘I dos,’ vows that I make.”
• When it’s supposed to be time for the kiss, Evan’s pastor says, “Let us pray,” which is apparently something that he has done during past weddings. After the prayer comes the kiss.
• Carlin and Evan run down the aisle and disappear. They arrive at the reception a short while later. The guests have been fed, and it’s time to cut the cake, made by Kelly’s sister Kay. Carlin and Evan do end up rubbing cake on each other’s faces.
• Ethan, Whitney, and Erin give speeches. During hers, Erin makes a cryptic announcement: “So it’s my bet that out of all of Mom and Dad’s children that you will be the best to have the most children. Me personally, I’ve made my contribution, contributions. Four is getting close.”
• The guests look around, wondering why Erin said four instead of three. “Oh, sorry, four,” says Erin. “Yes, I’m pregnant, for everybody that didn’t get that.” Everyone cheers.
• “I accidentally slipped,” says Erin later. “I was not planning on that. I think it’s just cause it’s on my mind. Like I’m so shocked at myself for having four children. I mean, that’s a huge feat.”
• After the speeches, everyone gathers around the outdoor dance floor and watches the couple share their first dance. Then comes the daddy-daughter dance. “Just watching Carlin enjoy that time with Dad, knowing the effort that Dad put into it--because he doesn’t dance--they did a beautiful job together, and it was just a really sweet time knowing how much it meant to her and knowing that he was willing to do anything to make her day special,” says Michael.
• The episode ends with the sparkler send-off, and the couple drives away in a green sports car.

'Home is Where the Heart is' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Home is Where the Heart is"

• The Keilens are back in Tennessee! Lawson and Nathan stop by their house in Norris to deliver furniture and mow the grass. Brandon is still in Chicago tying up lose ends at work, but he will join Michael the following day.
• “I mean, it’s almost like a dream come true,” says Gil of the Smiths and Keilens moving back to East Tennessee.
• “I know you’re going to be crazy busy with school, but if you ever decide that you want a side job, I’m always hiring tutors,” says Kelly. Michael responds that she could stop by the big house every afternoon from 3:30-5:30, before Brandon finishes work.
• “I think family is one of God’s most precious gifts,” says Michael.
• The week of the wedding, Evan comes into town to help Carlin set up the house, which is also in Norris. While they are putting gifts away in their kitchen, with Warden as a chaperone, they have a disagreement about the definition of a pot versus a pan.
• Carlin and Evan also practice the duet that they will sing at their wedding ceremony. Evan still hasn’t finished writing it. “I definitely had a lot of things that I imagined that we’d do at our wedding, and now that it’s getting closer, I’m like, ‘I don’t know if we got time to do that, let’s ex that off,’” says Carlin. “But I think our song’s the one thing…I just can’t make myself mark that one off, even though it’s a lot of work.”
• Later, Kelly and some of the sisters get together with photographer friend Taryn Yager for a dress boutique photo shoot. “I don’t know why we decided to start the boutique right before my wedding, but whatever, we did!” exclaims Carlin, smiling.
• Erin, Whitney, and Carlin take photos for the boutique every week, and they always offer to pay the other girls to model for them. “We attempt to model,” says Carlin. “We do not call ourselves models.”
• Carlin and Evan are planning to get their marriage license later that day, but Carlin is concerned because Evan’s clothes don’t match hers. “We don’t have to match to get our marriage license,” Evan tells his bride. “Yes we have to match getting our marriage license,” insists Carlin.
• At the courthouse, when the clerk asks for Carlin’s social security number, she has to pull out her phone. Gil says he knows it. “I don’t know how people remember that many numbers,” says Carlin. Gil laughs.
• The couple receives a 60% discount for completing marriage counseling. “I’m glad to know that even the state recognizes there’s benefits to getting marriage counseling before you’re married,” says Gil, who paid for Carlin and Evan’s marriage counseling because he believes in it so much.
• “I’m happy for them, but it’s hard to let go of her, and this really makes me realize, this is the real thing, and it’s fixin’ to happen in just a few days,” says Gil. Kelly is so busy with prep that she doesn’t expect to go through her “crying spell” until after Carlin leaves.