'Asking Permission and a Big Decision' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Asking Permission and a Big Decision"

• Zach and Whitney take Josie and Kelton out to dinner at Aubrey's Restaurant. "We get along really well with Zach and Whitney," says Kelton. "We really value their friendship and their counsel."
• As soon as they sit down, Zach gets down to business and asks the courting couple when they are planning on getting engaged. "Zach is very to the point about everything in life," says Kelton. "It's refreshing, and it's kind of funny."
• It turns out that Kelton is preparing to have a "large talk" with Gil. But first, he and Josie meet together with Gil and Kelly. "...We have come to the conclusion that we believe that the Lord is leading us toward marriage," says Kelton. "We want to seek your guidance on when a potential time frame could be to move forward with that. And we want to hear your heart on whether or not y'all are in agreement with that."
• Josie's dream is to have a fall wedding, hopefully this year. That's only five months away. 
• Gil isn't sure if he can handle another wedding so soon, but Kelly tells him, "Honey you better prepare because this is domino effect." He replies: "And I don't even play dominoes. Let's just say, these wedding things for the girls is going pretty good. The guys, let's just say the dominoes are not falling yet."
• When Kelly tells Gil that both Josie and Carlin have already been browsing for wedding dresses online, Gil says, "We're getting rid of the internet, too." Josie busts out laughing.
• But all joking aside, Gil wants his daughter to be happy. "Hey, we'll do all we can to help you do whatever we can do to help make your dream happen if we can," he says, in tears.
• Later, Gil and some of the boys head over to the church building that they have recently moved into. The congregation has grown, so the plan is to tear half the sanctuary down and build a new one that seats almost 300 people. Lawson suggests keeping the current building and adding a separate sanctuary, but Gil ultimately decides to continue with the existing plan. The project will be completed by the Bates, other church members, and a group called Carpenters for Christ from Alabama.
• Eight weeks into their pregnancy, Tori and Bobby have their first ultrasound at Dr. Vick's office. "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," says Bobby.
• Dr. Vick says that the ultrasound looks good. "Everything's great, I think, except for sickness," shares Tori, who is due November 24th. Tori's progesterone was low, but the doctor was able to bring it up with medicine. He also prescribes something to help with morning sickness.

'Milestones and New Chapters' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Milestones and New Chapters"

• Two weeks before moving to Nashville, Tori heads over to Erin's house for a cooking lesson. "I definitely need cooking lessons from Erin before I leave because I have a knack for always messing things up," says Tori. "I'm a struggling cooker."
• Erin admits that she didn't know how to cook a single meal when she first got married. She shows Tori how to make her newest meal: chicken breasts marinated in balsamic vinegar and garlic.
• The food turns out great, but Tori is still lacking confidence in her cooking abilities. Bobby and Chad join the ladies for dinner. "Me and Tori have always been close as sisters, and just at the thought of her leaving...it just really tears me up," says Erin.
• Meanwhile, Gil and the guys work on a tree job. "When Dad first started his own business, it was very humble beginnings," says Lawson. "This was Dad with a chainsaw and boys piling wood [and] hauling it with a little four-cylinder Dodge pickup truck."
• The older boys are getting busier by the day, so it's time for Jackson to learn how to use spikes to climb a tree. It proves to be much more difficult than the tree climbing that Jackson is used to, but he makes it up to the top.
• Later, the family attends the Crown College graduation ceremony to honor Tori, Trace, and Josie. Trace, who has completed the foundation for Christian life certificate, never saw himself going to college, but he ended up loving it. "College totally changed Trace for the better," says Josie. "It helped him come out of his box and kind of find who he was."
• Josie has earned her diploma in cosmetology, a two-year program. "I'm honestly speechless," says Kelton. "I couldn't be more proud of her."
• Tori is presented with a bachelor's of Biblical studies in elementary education, which took four years to complete. "I am literally so pumped out of my mind that I don't even know how to say it because I have been dying to be graduated for my whole life," says Tori.
• "Everybody is different," says Kelly. "Some of the kids have wanted to purse college, some have not. They're all different, and I'm proud of all of my children. But it does take a lot of perseverance."
• After the ceremony, the family and extended family gathers at the Bates house for a party. The next nine days will be spent packing Tori and Bobby's apartment and moving them to Nashville. "Any time I get together with my family or siblings, I treasure and cherish that moment..." says Tori.
• "Life happens too quick," says Nathan. "Changes are getting bigger."

'Chaperoning Dos and Don'ts' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Chaperoning Dos and Don'ts"

• Having recently realized that their younger kids don’t know much about chaperoning, Gil and Kelly host a Chaperoning 101 class. “We noticed our chaperones are getting younger and younger and younger,” says Kelly. “And some of these little guys think that chaperoning means getting a free meal.
• When the parents ask Zach and Whitney to demonstrate how a courting couple should act on a date, Zach jokingly turns the tables. “What did y’all do on dates?” he questions. “Y’all show us what y’all did on dates. We’d love to learn from y’all. I mean, y’alls’ love has lasted through 19 kids. What did y’all do?” Everyone busts out laughing.
• While they do believe in chaperones, Gil and Kelly also encourage those chaperoning to let the couple have chances to talk privately, as long as they are in a public place. For example, they might get a private table at a restaurant.
• Speaking of chaperones, Katie accompanies Josie to Kelton’s house to eat with him and his family. “I think we’ve kind of agreed that when we first get married, we’re probably going to cook together since I’m not a very good cook yet,” admits Josie. Kelton’s youngest sister, Kerstin, shows off the bunnies that she got for her birthday. They end the day with ice cream at Cruze Farm Dairy.
• About a month before they move, Tori and Bobby drive to Hendersonville (near Nashville) to meet with Greg Mutsch, senior pastor at the church, Bible Baptist, that has hired Bobby as its youth pastor.
• They also tour some beautiful, two-bedroom apartments in the area. “If it doesn’t smell bad, I’m happy,” laughs Tori.
• While in Hendersonville, Tori and Bobby go on a double date at a bowling alley with Carlin and Evan. “This is totally going to be our future, like every weekend, as much as we can,” says Tori.
• Lawson stops by to join in on the fun and jokingly accuses them of discriminating against single people when they don’t allow him in their couples’ picture.
• Back in Rocky Top, Bradley helps Zach build a dog house for Boomer. “One thing Zach’s great at is building,” says Lawson. “He just needs to make it big enough so he can fit in it,” adds Carlin, smiling.

Bates Fan File 729

Another week, another beautiful Bates baby born (try saying that five times fast)! Did you enjoy watching Everly Paine's debut? It sure was a dramatic but emotional delivery. For more on the episode, check out my Fan File segment below.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

'Labor Paines' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Labor Paines"

• “My last week of pregnancy, I’m always so uncomfortable,” admits Erin. “I’m anxious, I’m worried about how the birth experience is going to be.”
• Erin hits up a local nail salon with Tori, Carlin, Katie, and Whitney to relax before labor and delivery. “Every time I look down at this big thing in my belly and realize that it’s got to come out, it’s disturbing,” laughs the expectant mama.
• Chad stops by the nail salon after work. He enjoys learning all about the process, and he loves the comfy chairs.
• Kelly and Erin take the kids for a walk at Norris Dam, hoping that it will jump start labor. Kelly is looking forward to welcoming another grandbaby.
• At 9:05pm, Erin is having strong contractions and is really nervous. Carlin comes over to the Paine house to start filming. “I’m really excited to be a part of all of it,” says Carlin. They leave for the hospital, which is 30 minutes away, around 9:45.
• During the drive, labor starts to pick up. “And when Erin goes to the kneeling position, I’m like, ‘Oh boy, we are in trouble,’” says Chad.
• Erin tries to convince her husband to run a red light, but Chad says there are too many cars around. But when he speeds up on the highway, she tells him to slow down. Go figure. When they finally arrive at the hospital and get a room, Erin is relieved.
• Gil, Kelly, Michael, and Katie arrive. No one can get in touch with Tori, who had really wanted to be at the birth. Katie has even tried pounding on her front door, but to no avail.
• At 3:37am, Gil looks at the monitor and realizes that it could be time to push. The nurses come rushing in, but Dr. Vic has stepped away. The doctor arrives just in time, and Everly appears. “There’s really no words to describe what it’s like to see your baby,” says Chad. Everyone is crying tears of joy. Gil comes back in and joins the celebration. Katie is on the couch sleeping during the entire birth.
• “This has been the most adventure-filled, blessing-filled, 96 hours, probably of our life,” says Gil. “To have two new granddaughters, two healthy moms, and now looking forward to what the Lord’s going to do next.”
• Later, Carson and Brooklyn arrive, and they are elated to meet Everly. Brooklyn calls her a baby doll. The rest of the Bates clan visits the hospital to hold and kiss the new arrival.
• “Awe, this makes me want to have another baby,” Erin says during the interview. The look on Chad’s face says no. “Okay, we’re done interviewing,” he says and jokingly starts to stand up.

'A Bundle of Joy and a Rodeo Show' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Bundle of Joy and a Rodeo Show"

• Kelly arrives in Florida to visit Alyssa, who has been having steady contractions all week. She pampers her daughter with a trip to a local nail salon.  “It’s great when my mom comes to town,” says Alyssa. “She relieves so much stress.”
• At Alyssa’s request, Kelly shares some advice for surviving with three kids: “I would try to remind myself the blessings in front of me and laugh at the silly things, not get stressed over the unimportant things.”
• Early the next morning, Kelly receives a call at the hotel that Zoey has arrived. “Whenever she says she thinks she’s going into labor, she doesn’t tell me anymore because I’m like, ‘Oh, we need to go,’” says John. “Why risk having the baby here?” “He freaks out,” says Alyssa, laughing.
• The baby is born within an hour and a half of the time that the Websters arrive at the birthing center. Kelly is thrilled to be invited to meet them at the center just before they are released to leave. “I have held a lot of babies, but it always just puts me in awe, the tears that it brings when you see it and it’s there and it’s healthy and you’re holding it,” says Granny. “Every time, it’s new and fresh and wonderful and special.”
• Back at the Webster home, Allie and Lexi are introduced to their new sister. “Zoey came out!” exclaims Allie. Gil arrives, and they do a video chat call with the kids back home. That night, Gil, Kelly, Alyssa, and John enjoy a takeout steak dinner.
• Meanwhile, Lawson and Trace arrive in Shipshewana, Indiana, to participate in a rodeo with friend Shadow Montag.
• During practice, the brothers enjoy showing each other up. “As far as the boys’ competitive spirit, they’re only competitive, normally, when they’re breathing, which is all the time,” says Gil. “So I don’t care what you do, the other one’s going to say, ‘Well I can do that, too.’”
• Lawson opens the show with the national anthem. When it comes time for the boys to do their tricks, they are nervous, but the crowd loves their routines. After the show, they sign autographs.