Recap: "High Risk, High Hopes"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "High Risk, High Hopes"...

• Erin and Chad visit Dr. Vic to see how Erin is progressing in her high-risk pregnancy.
• Dr. Vic explains that with Erin's condition, there is a risk of having a stillbirth. 
• "This is one of those situations where there is nothing you can do but pray," says Gil.
• "You just have to pray that God knows best and that we're doing everything we can to have a healthy baby," says Erin.
• Back at the Bates house, the younger kids build an underground fort. Gil and Kelly don't have broadcast TV, so their kids spend a lot of time outside.
• Then, Lawson, Nathan, and Trace take Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah to a driving range for a golfing lesson, which, according to Zach, is just "the blind leading the blind."
• When they return home, the older boys load their airsoft guns and try to take the younger boys' fort. The Bates have one rule for airsoft wars: Everyone must wear eye protection.
• The rest of the family watches from the window.
• Erin prepares dinner for Zach, Whitney, and Bradley. According to Tori, "Erin, for the longest time, was the worst cook ever."
• "When Erin cooked at the house, we would say, 'When the fire alarm goes off, dinner is ready,'" teases Zach. Since marrying Chad and having a reason to develop her skills, Erin is now a great chef.
• "Zach doesn't say it much, and he doesn't show it, but he has a hard time watching his sisters grow up and get married and have babies," says Whitney. "It makes him sad."

Recap: Future In-Laws?

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "Future In-Laws?"

• Gil, Kelly, and Michael head to Chicago to meet with Brandon Keilen (Michael's boyfriend) and his parents. Erin and Chad come over to help with the little ones while Gil and Kelly are away.
• Brandon's family lives in Michigan, but when Brandon and Michael get married, they will live in Chicago, where Brandon has been working since graduating from school. (Brandon proposed soon after this episode was filmed, and the wedding is set for August 15th.)
• Gil requests that they have Chicago pizza, so they enjoy a meal at Giordano's. Kelly and Michael are eager for Brandon to propose, but Gil is a little more laid back. "I know that [Brandon] has got to be thinking engagement," says Kelly. "It has to be on his mind, because it's on all of ours."
• The following morning, they head to an art shop, where they each paint a piece of pottery.
• At lunch, Brandon pulls Gil into the men's room to ask for permission to propose in the next few weeks. Brandon tells Gil the date, but Gil doesn't plan to tell Kelly because he knows she will spill the beans.
• While they are eating, Kelly pulls out a 2015 calendar and asks Brandon if he wants to choose a date for the wedding. Brandon jokes that he is planning on Valentine's Day of 2015.
• Back in Tennessee, Erin and Chad and the kids prepare to redecorate Gil and Kelly's bedroom as a surprise. Chad and the boys work on refinishing the antique bedroom furniture, while the girls decorate.
• While Erin is babysitting, she has the kids use their food to make animals. Gil doesn't like wasting food, so the children say he would not approve.
• When Gil and Kelly return home, they are blown away by their newly decorated room. Gil tells the family that he had a special talk with Brandon but won't reveal the details. "I hardly ever know anything everybody don't know," says Gil.

Recap: "All Together Again"

Bringing Up Bates "All Together Again"

• The entire Bates family gathers to celebrate "I Love You Day" (aka Valentine's Day), which many of the kids say is their favorite holiday. Brandon Keilen, Michaella's boyfriend, flies in to join the celebration.
• "I hope this is the last Valentine's Day before I get married, says Michaella."But if it's not, we'll have another one to celebrate together." (Update: Brandon and Michaella got engaged in April and have set their wedding date for August 15th.)
• Gil and Kelly gather everyone in the living room for a family meeting. Four older men dressed in matching suits stop by to surprise Whitney. They hand her a card and a rose from Zach and sing two love songs.
• "It was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen," says Whitney. "I was proud of myself," says Zach.
• "Gil has always been very thoughtful," says Kelly. "And I think growing up, all of the boys in the family saw it was worth spending your time, your money, your effort on making your marriage fresh and alive."
• Gil and Kelly take all four couples on a date to a Japanese restaurant. The chef cooks the food in front of them and provides entertainment, as well.
• To celebrate "I Love You Day," the Bates family draws names for a gift exchange. Gil and Kelly encourage the kids to focus on what they will give, rather than on what they will receive. Each family member spends about $25. 
• Later, Gil and Kelly and the younger kids go shopping for gifts. "Whenever we go to any store, my dad starts sweating like crazy," says Lawson. To cut down on costs, Gil goes through the gifts and takes out a few knick knacks that he doesn't think his kids need.
• Back at home, everyone helps prepare for the big Valentine's dinner. As usual, there are a lot of opinions flying around. According to Kelly, the only thing the entire family ever agrees on is to have more kids.
• Lawson and Nathan work out a plan to hang a piñata in the house. They back a crane up to the door and extend the arm through the doorway. "Y'all make the simplest things so complicated!" says Carlin.
• Everyone dresses up in their fanciest clothing and gathers for dinner. Then they distribute gifts, one at a time.
• The kids clap and cheer when Gil receives a new pair of jeans from his "special pal." "We have tried for a very long time to get my dad jeans that actually look good," says Tori.
• Brandon and Michaella unveil a big surprise for the family: a 3-D Bates family tree with a picture of each family member.
• "I have the greatest life of everybody I know," says Gil.
• Gil and Brandon plan a meeting with Brandon's parents to discuss his relationship with Michaella.

Recap: "A Birthday to Remember"

Bringing Up Bates "A Birthday to Remember" (season finale)

• Gil beat his dad at tennis for the first time on his dad's 50th birthday. Now Nathan wants to beat Gil at wrestling on Gil's 50th birthday. Gil and Nathan consider going all out in professional wrestling attire, but they resolve to wear T-shirts and jeans to maintain their standards of modesty. Nathan thinks he is the winner, but the rest of the family says Gil is.
• Next, Lawson challenges Gil, but the Bates dad wins that match pretty easily. "Lawson is the best talker in our family," says Gil.
• Nathan has been planning a surprise 50th birthday party for his dad for several months. Kelly and the older kids meet at Zach and Whitney's to discuss details. "I think he's got an idea that something's going on, but there's no way he knows the magnitude of what we're doing," says Nathan.
• The kids are inviting family members, high school and college wrestling buddies, men Gil has ministered to, and pastors who have impacted Gil's life over the years. 
• "There is no way we can get this done," says Carlin. But Nathan has high hopes.
• "I just want to know how they come up with all them ideas," says Zach after his family leaves. "I couldn't hear myself think." The oldest Bates kid has grown accustomed to his quite life with his wife and infant son.
• Kelly takes Gil out for a romantic, one-night getaway to Maple Grove Inn, a bed and breakfast build in the late 1700s, so the kids can plan.
• "You have been such a good husband because you have made our marriage a priority," Kelly tells Gil that evening.
• "I don't know what's in the future, but I know Who holds the future, and I'm looking forward to what He's going to deliver," says Gil.
• Tori and Carlin go shopping for food. The girls pay with gift cards because Tori says their dad checks his bank balance "like every five minutes."
• Carlin attempts to come up with a few skits highlighting special moments from Gil's life to perform at the party, and Lawson writes a song for his dad.
• The kids finish cleaning and decorating just as guests start arriving from all over the country. Gil and Kelly pull into the driveway, and Kelly blindfolds her husband he can't see all the cars. They walk in the front door, and everyone yells "surprise."
• "Where did y'all come from?" Gil exclaims. He starts tearing up right away.  
• The kids act out Gil and Kelly's first date, which Gil didn't show up to. Zach reads a letter he wrote to his dad, and Lawson performs his song. Gil is touched that his kids and wife planned such a special surprise party and that so many people traveled so far to attend.
• Season two of Bringing Up Bates will premiere in June and run for 13 episodes.

Recap: "All About the Bates"

Bringing Up Bates "All About the Bates"

• The Bates sit down to answer questions submitted by fans.
• Do the kids want more siblings? Yes!
• Do Gil and Kelly want more children? Yes! "We would love more children," says Kelly. "I think that I'm getting a little too old, I guess, because we're trying and nothing's happening."
• How old do the kids have to be to court? Gil and Kelly set an approximate age of 18. "But honestly, for some kids it should be older because they ain't very mature," says Tori.
• The kids all agree that Brandon should propose to Michaella very soon. "I don't care how we get engaged," says Michaella. "As long as we get married, it doesn't matter."
• Will there be a Bates/Duggar wedding? Nathan says: "Absolutely yes." "There has to be out of 19 of them," says Tori.
• Which kids are the most outgoing? Tori and Nathan
• Who has the best style? Josie 
• Have Gil and Kelly become less strict in their old age? Everyone says yes. The parents of 19 call it "grandparent syndrome."
• Do the Bates have any tips for disciplining children? Avoid being an angry parent, says Gil. "You may get instant results," explains the dad of 19. "But you are going to create a huge wall between you and your child..." He and Kelly encourage other parents to talk through things with their kids.
• What meal tips does Kelly have to share? She plans meals a week in advance. One of the Bates' favorite recipes is sautéed chicken. They cut boneless chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces and sauté them in olive oil, chopped onion, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper until golden brown. Then they add honey mustard and spicy mustard and serve with potatoes.
• Can the Bates identify baby pictures of all the children? Nope.
• Do the Bates have any hidden talents? Carlin can yodel.
• Is there anything Chad can't do? Everyone says no. "We are still discovering all the talents of Chad," says Nathan.
• The kids give viewers a tour of the house. On the second floor are the master bedroom, laundry room/family clothes closet, and girls' room. The girls have trundle beds to save space. Inside the girls' room is a tiny alcove that has a bunk bed for Judson and Jeb and an elliptical. The boys live on the third floor.

Recap: "The Bates Go to Florida"

Here is the recap of last night's show. We usually post our recaps immediately after each episode airs, but we were delayed this week due to technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience. :)

Bringing Up Bates "The Bates Go to Florida"

• The Bates clan arrives in Florida. 
• The entire family heads to Clearwater to go to the beach for the first time in seven years.
• "We like beaches, and we like people," says Gil. "We just like people to have all their clothes on at the beaches."
• Several of the kids wear swimsuits, which means WholesomeWear for the girls and swim trunks and shirts for the boys. The others wear regular clothes, but that doesn't stop their dad and siblings from throwing them in the ocean.
• Next, the family goes to the Clearwater Aquarium, where they have the privilege of feeding Winter, a dolphin with a prosthetic tale who stars in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.
• "It was pretty cool getting to pet a movie star dolphin...says " Katie.
• At Showcase of Citrus, the Bates pick fresh oranges. Then, they take a ride on one of the world's largest monster trucks. "I don't' think you could have picked a better way to end the trip," says Lawson.

Recap: "A Big Bates Thanksgiving"

Bringing Up Bates "A Big Bates Thanksgiving"

• Erin visits her doctor to determine the gender of her baby. The results are written on a piece of paper and sealed in an envelope, which Erin will give to her cousin Katherine so she can bake a cake with either pink or blue inside. "I am a super curious person, especially when it comes to what my baby is," says Erin.
• The family packs up and heads to Gil's parents' farm in Honea Path, South Carolina. Mama Jane and Papa Bill prepare to feed a few dozen family members for Thanksgiving Dinner.
• Gil's parents have owned their farm since they moved to the area when Gil was in third grade. Now, his brother and sister each own a house and several acres of land on the property. Gil and Kelly also own several acres.
• The entire family gathers together, including Michaella's boyfriend, Brandon.
• On Thanksgiving Day, Callie accidentally slams Jeb's finger in a door. Later, during the annual family football game (married guys versus single guys) Zach injures his knee. But no one ends up in the emergency room, so the Bates consider it a good day.
• Growing up, Gil spent a lot of time playing sports. His parents say he had a hard time balancing athletics with other priorities. Now that he has kids, he encourages them to put Christ first, which means they don't play organized sports.
• The Bates put on their matching outfits (purples, blues, and grays) and take family photos. Chad the photographer organizes the pictures.
• Bill and Jane rent a tent for Thanksgiving Dinner because their house isn't big enough to accommodate their growing family. After the meal, the Bates move inside and reflect on what they are thankful for. "There was probably not a dry eye in the place," says Gil.
• Kelly's response is the most touching: "I'm really thankful that y'all are so forgiving because I know as parents, we have let you down so many times. There have been times that we were upset with y'all that we shouldn't have been, or that we should have cut you slack and we didn't, or that we were impatient. And y'all have put up and endured and even encouraged us along and are so forgiving. And many times we look back and we feel like failures as parents, and we feel like we've let y'all down in so many ways. And y'all are the greatest kids in the world. Y'all encourage us so much. I just love every one of you.
• Gil says he is thankful that his wife had the idea of leaving the size of their family up to God. He thought it was crazy at first, but looking back, he says it was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
• Everyone gathers around as Erin cuts into the cake baked by her cousin. The inside is blue, which means she and Chad are having a boy!
• To end the night, Lawson plays piano while Papa Bill and Mama Jane dance. Mama Jane tries to teach Nathan. "Nathan cannot dance," says Michaella.
• The following day, the Bates (everyone but Michaella, who is returning home to Tennessee to work, and Brandon, who is flying back to Michigan) gather up their belongings to head down to Florida.
• The family talks about how different Thanksgiving will be in 2015. "Bradley might have a girl in his life...a sister," says Zach. "Zach, be serious!" responds Whitney.
• "There might be a couple more wives, or girlfriends," says Nathan. "I am not getting married before next Thanksgiving," confirms Lawson.

Recap: "Michaella and Brandon"

Bringing Up Bates, "Michaella and Brandon"

• Brandon comes to Rocky Top, Tennessee, for a two-week visit with the Bates family. His relationship with Michaella has been long-distance since the two started courting on December 30th, 2013, so Gil and Kelly suggested he come for an extended stay to bond with the rest of the family.
• "I have been counting down the days since I first found out he was coming," says Michaella. "I have been so excited about having this time to spend with him and seeing him interact with my siblings."
• When he arrives, Brandon surprises the kids with candy. "It was the bestest!" says Judson. "He's my favorite."
• "Brandon was smart to bring candy in one way, but he would have been smarter to bring earplugs," jokes Zach, who admits he is enjoying the quietness of married life with only one kid.
• As the third youngest of ten kids, Brandon's upbringing was busy, but definitely not as chaotic as Michaella's. "It's kind of overwhelming at times, but it's also kind of fun, just to be able to be in the atmosphere," he says, smiling. "They are all very loving people."
• Michaella and Brandon met at a homeschool conference about five years ago. "The more I get to know her, the more I realize how honored I am to be in this relationship with her," says Brandon.
• Gil and Kelly share one rule with the couple: they cannot be alone in a room together.
• While Michaella works her day job as a nanny, Brandon, born and raised in Michigan, accompanies Gil and the boys on a tree job. "He might be a Yankee, but he works," says Tori.
• The future Bates son-in-law is cautious at first, but by the end of the day, he is pulling his own weight. "Brandon was working so hard that he was making me start to look bad," says Trace.
• Later, Gil and Kelly take the courting couple on a walk in the woods. They give Michaella and Brandon some privacy by stepping back and allowing their daughter and her boyfriend to go on ahead. 
• "When you have chaperones, sometimes it's awkward to carry on really in-depth conversations together," explains Kelly. "So we like for all the courting couples to have opportunity to have all the conversations they need to have..."
• Gil and Kelly pray with Michaella and Brandon and give them a book, which is also used by the Duggar family. The "Getting Ready for Marriage Workbook is available on the Store page of the Duggar Family Blog.
• Michaella and Tori take the little kids to an indoor bounce house, and Brandon comes along. Tori tries to force Brandon to go bouncing and go down the slides with her. At one point, she grabs his arm, and Michaella, in fun, shouts, "Tori, hands off!"
• "If I'm not going to touch him, then she can't either," says Michaella, laughing. Tori shares her side of the story: "It wasn't like I was trying to hug the guy for crying out loud. I was just trying to get him to come have fun with me."
• Next, Brandon goes bowling with the Bates boys. "When do you think you're going to get engaged, man?" asks Nathan. "It's hard to say," responds Brandon, who admits that he is thinking about proposing but that he wants to keep the details a secret.
• At the end of the evening, Michaella's brothers put their stamp of approval on Brandon.
• To get a feel for Michaella's style, Brandon takes Tori, Carlin, and Josie ring shopping. Each sister has a slightly different idea about which ring Michaella would like best. In the end, everyone knows that Brandon will make the final decision.
• "Brandon handled all the connections with the kids in a great way, and I think he's really a star player," says Gil sincerely.

Recap: "The Purity Ring"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "The Purity Ring"...

• Lawson Bates prepares to sing the National Anthem for 15,000 people at a University of Tennessee men's basketball game. When he first mentioned the idea to his parents, they thought it wouldn't be possible, but Lawson made it happen. "He doesn't give up," says Kelly. "He kept pursuing, and that's encouraging as a parent."
• The rest of the Bates clan attends the game to support Lawson. This is the first major sporting event they have attended as a family.
• Before the performance, Lawson admits he is extremely nervous, but he ends up doing very well. Lawson's parents and siblings are proud of his accomplishment. Gil tears up as he listens to his son sing.
• "It was absolutely awesome," says Carlin. "The crowd loved it," says Nathan.
• Later, Carlin is shocked when she receives a special delivery: a bouquet of flowers, a fancy dress, and an invite to a dinner date with Mom and Dad.
• Carlin is all smiles as she and her parents enjoy a meal at an expensive restaurant, just the three of them.
• Gil starts to cry as presents her with a purity ring. "This is a little gift that we got you," says the father of 19. "It's valuable, but what you are is way more valuable than any gift we could give you, and what God's given you is a wholesome, pure life. And I want you to keep it until the day that I hand you off to some fine young man that loves God, and then he will begin to take care of you."
• Kelly says that she expects Carlin to start forming friendships with guys and to enter into a courtship when she finds a guy she really likes.
• "For us, a purity ring is something we have given our girls, just as a symbol for them and a reminder for them to keep their heart pure and to put God first in their life and to save themselves for marriage," says the mom of 19.
• At Zach and Whitney's house, the couple shares how they are adjusting to life with a new baby. "Whitney is an amazing mom," says Zach. "I'm just blown away. The way her and Bradley bond, you'd think she'd had 20 or 30 kids of her own already." Whitney says her husband is an excellent father.
• The Bates brings a pile of frozen pizzas over to Zach and Whitney's for some family bonding time. Kelly comes up with the idea of getting together every other Friday night, and everyone agrees.

Recap: "Organized Chaos"

Tonight on Bringing Up Bates, "Organized Chaos"...

• Gil and Kelly and the kids go through the lengthy process of pulling out winter clothes and packing away summer clothes. "It takes us all day to go through clothes," says Josie. "And sometimes another day," adds Katie.
• "That's mine!" is one of the most common phrases heard as the family sorts through clothes.
• Kelly decides to donate her maternity clothes. "I'm getting old, and there's not been a baby in a long time, and so I thought, we're just keeping clutter," says the mom of 19, who would still love to have another kid, as would the rest of the family.
• Kelly adds: "Somebody said, 'If you get rid of all your clothes, watch what will happen, you'll get pregnant.' So I said, 'Good idea!'"
• The Bates family prepares to sing at the Museum of Appalachia's Tennessee Fall Homecoming festival. To get the little kids in the mood to sing, Carlin and Kelly lead them in a round of "The Poochie Lip Disease."
• The evening before the festival, the whole family gathers to rehearse "In This House," the song they will be singing at the event. It doesn't go as well as they had hoped. 
• On the day of the performance, Kelly says she is most nervous about the older girls giggling and the little kids not being attentive.
• The performance turns out well, and the whole family is relieved. Carlin also showcases her yodeling skills, and Lawson sings one of his original songs, "Freedom Sure Ain't Free."
• When the Duggars helped the Bates add an addition onto their house back in spring 2008, the old part of the house became a storage room. Chad and Erin come over to help the family organize the space so it can be used.
• "We are great project starters, but Chad is a good project finisher," says Nathan.
• In the middle of the project, Michaella receives a text from her boyfriend, Brandon. "Brandon is my greatest distraction, and I love being distracted," says Michaella.
• "When Brandon texts, [Michaella] is no help around here," laughs Gil.
• The Bates boys pause the cleanup project to do home haircuts. Chad is a self-taught expert at trimming men's hair. "My brothers, they are very, very, very particular about their haircut," says Erin.
• "You are definitely the best guy that Erin has ever married," Gil tells Chad jokingly. The dad of 19 makes a point to reward his son-in-law for helping with haircuts.