Something on Nathan's Finger?

Lawson Bates, Trace Bates, Nathan Bates

Readers have recently noticed something suspicious on Nathan's finger and have been asking about it. Just wanted to let you know that your questions will be answered shortly. Below are the summaries for the two upcoming new episodes of Bringing Up Bates.

September 3 at 9pm ET: Shelter In Bates
In another family-filmed episode, the Bates remain productive while maintaining social distancing guidelines during the pandemic. Kelly Jo is in project mode, so she leans on Lawson, Judson, and Jeb to help put together shelves for a new pantry. Meanwhile, Carlin, Whitney, and Erin discuss their online boutique over video chat and strategize how they can keep their business up and running in the midst of COVID-19, while Michaela chats with Brandon about the challenges of pursuing her nursing degree online instead of in the classroom.

September 10 at 9pm ET: Giving Thanks
Lawson, Nathan, and Trace spend time catching up and riding horses at the ranch, but Nathan is quickly in the hot seat when his brothers notice something interesting on his finger. Does he have news he wants to share? Meanwhile, every day has been an emotional roller coaster for first-time parents Carlin and Evan after learning that baby Layla has a small hole in her heart. Finally, Whitney and Zach get an unexpected delivery as thanks for all of the work they’ve done for the boutique during the pandemic.

 Photo courtesy of UPtv

Zach and Whitney

Happy Monday! We thought we would share this new (and incredibly adorable) photo of Zach and Whitney. These two are preparing to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary in December. And you may be surprised to hear that the snapshot below was taken by Bradley Bates. Not even six years old, and already a skilled photographer.

Zach Bates and Whitney Bates

Photo courtesy of @zachnwhitbates

Nathan Turns 27

Wishing Nathan Bates a very happy 27th birthday! Did you know that Nathan's legal name is actually Kenneth Nathaniel Bates?

Nathan Bates and Katie Bates

 

Photo courtesy of UPt

Can't Keep this Granny Away

Tori Smith, Kolter Smith, Bobby Smith

"I'm pretty sure that my mom was having a heart attack that she could not come and meet Kolter and hold him."

Tori Smith

Soon after Kolter Smith's arrival, Kelly Bates decided she couldn't take the distance any longer, so she did a drive-by visit. This granny deserperately wanted to hold her new grandson, but she knew that could put him at risk by spreading germs. Below is a web exclusive from Thursday's episode.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

'Baby Boy Blessings & Basketball Mishaps' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Baby Boy Blessings & Basketball Mishaps"

• Kelly is keeping up with all her kids via video chat. Tori invites Addee over to help with Kade while she gets ready to go to the hospital. “This is going to be a very difficult grandbaby birth for me because this will be the first birth that I’m not either at or coming to shortly after delivery,” says Kelly. Due to the virus, Bobby will be the only guest allowed in the delivery room.
• Lawson is still in Arkansas training for his pilot’s license. “I’m honestly a little bit overwhelmed with all the pilot training and information, but at the same time, I have a good instructor, and I think I am pretty close to getting ready for this check ride and being able to pass and officially be a pilot,” says Lawson.
• While he’s at work, Bobby gets a call from Tori informing him that her water is breaking. Katie comes over, and Tori and Bobby are able to leave for the hospital. It’s hard for Tori to leave Kade, but the contractions are ramping up, so she must.
• When she arrives at the hospital and gets her epidural, Tori sets up a FaceTime call with her mom, sisters, and sister-in-law. She goes from 3cm to ready to have a baby in a very short time. Kolter arrives soon after 4pm.
• Meanwhile, Gil takes Trace to the ER following a basketball accident. Unfortunately, since Trace is over 18, Gil is unable to go in with him due to virus policies. Trace is released and told to take it easy for a few weeks.
• Later, Tori and Bobby bring Kolter home to meet a very excited Kade.

Head-On Collision Between 2 Bates

Gil Bates waits outside the hospital

When a head-on collision with Warden Bates leaves Trace Bates in bad condition, it's time for a visit to the emergency room. And it just so happens that Tori Smith is in the hospital at the very same time, preparing to deliver Kolter Smith. You know what they say, when it rains it pours. Or, when one of your 19 children ends up in the hospital, another is sure to follow. 

You won't want to miss tonight's new episode of Bringing Up Bates, scheduled to drop on UPtv at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Tori's 'Unique' Labor

 

Tori's video support people during labor

Tori is fixin' to have a baby! Well, in TV time, that is. This week on Bringing Up Bates, the Smiths welcome Kolter in a slightly different fashion than past Bates deliveries. Bobby is the only support person who can be by Tori's side during the birth, but the rest of the Bates ladies are able to show their support via video chat. 

Also on Thursday's episode, Trace ends up in the emergency room following a basketball injury, and the Bates continue to navigate life all the changes that life has brought (snapshots and video clip below).

Tori Smith, Kade Smith, Kolter Smith, Bobby Smith

 

Bobby and Tori Smith

 

 

Trace Bates

Photos/video courtesy of UPtv

Evan Turns 25

Happy Bates birthday to Evan Stewart! He is turning 25.

Carlin Stewart, Layla Stewart, Evan Stewart

Photo courtesy of @carlinbates98

Live Plants for Tori

Whitney Bates and Erin Paine

Planting plants for Tori

"I will be the first to admit, I am not a plant lady. Now, I love them. I love the way they look in my house, and when Erin comes to decorate, I'll have all the plants you give me. I'm not really good at figuring out how to do it. I just help out."

-Whitney Bates

Now that she has moved to East Tennessee and seen all her sisters with live plants in their homes, Tori is ready to "raise" some of her own. Just before Tori welcomes Kolter, Whitney and Erin help get her started with some new house plants (web exclusive video below).

 

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

'The Show Must Go On' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The Show Must Go On"

• Much of this footage was shot with the Bates’ cell phones, due to COVID-19. For the interviews, Isaiah runs the cameras, and the producer asks questions via video. “For a mom, you’re worried about your children,” says Kelly. “I don’t want to panic, but I want to have a healthy fear of safety for my kids because it is serious. People have lost lives, so that is never a joking matter.”
• At the Smiths’ apartment, Chad and Bobby are staining a shelf for Kade and Kolter’s room. The official shutdown has not happened yet, so the Paines and Smiths are still able to see each other. Michael brings over a homecooked meal, as the Paines help the Smiths finish decorating for Kolter’s arrival.
• At the Stewart home, Layla is Facetiming with Gil and Kelly. “We probably should not intermingle while this is going on,” says Kelly. Evan is still working because electrical is considered essential.
• “…Not seeing the kids that are married is hard,” says Kelly. “Feeling like we’re not doing our normal roles as Mom and Dad to be there for the kids, that’s hard. I’ve had some tearful nights.”
• Knox County has just required a shutdown of all nonessential companies for at least 14 business. Kelton and Bobby are relieved to find out that their company is considered essential. “If this were to shut our business down for a month, two months, that could be it,” says Kelton. “I cannot tell you how relieving it was to find that we were on the list of essential businesses.”
• In Florida, the Websters give an update. John is also considered an essential worker because the temperatures are increasing, and AC is very necessary.
• Jackson is leaving a bootcamp called ALERT, which has been canceled and rescheduled for fall. He stops in Northwest Arkansas to join Lawson and Nathan at a rental house. Nathan, who spends a lot of time in Arkansas doing flight training, is helping Lawson complete his pilot’s license.
• Two weeks before her due date, Tori goes to her OB appointment. “I’m really glad that Erin got to come with me to that appointment because Erin is like the most positive, encouraging, uplifting person,” says Tori. Bobby will be the only person allowed in the hospital with Tori.

Quarantining with the Bates

Tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT on UPtv, the Bates have a unique episode in store for y'all. The footage has been filmed by them, not the film crew, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You'll check in with various family members to see how they are doing with quarantining. Below are a few snapshots.

 

Willow Balka

 

Tori Smith and Dr. Vick

 

Nathan Bates and Lawson Bates

 

Carlin Stewart and Layla Stewart

Photos courtesy of UPtv

The Bates Take Up Filming

Erin Paine, Tori Smith, Michael Keilen

"Michaela has brought us dinner. This is what I love about big families."

-Erin Paine

This week's new episode of Bringing Up Bates is going to be a bit different. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit, and the film crew is unable to travel to Rocky Top, but the show must go on. The Bates have taken up the task of filming! With Tori's due date drawing near, Erin and Michael stop by to show their support (video below).

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

Stewarts Come Down with COVID

 

Carlin Stewart and Evan Stewart

Carlin and Evan Stewart just shared that they are both on the tail end of recovering from COVID-19. They haven't provided any other details, but we know they would appreciate your prayers. 

Photo courtesy of UPtv

Travis' Song for Katie

The Clark family sings "This Little Light of Mine"

"I really could listen to 'em singing all day long."

-Kelly Bates

Another Bates daughter is dating a musical man! Evan Stewart is no longer the only Bates significant other whose family sings. Since Travis was a young boy, his family has had a gospel music group (video below) and has published a handful of CDs. Their newest album, "In God's Perfect Time," was released earlier this month. 

Travis is also doing solo music. On last night's episode of Bringing Up Bates, viewers watched him play an original song for Katie when he asked her to start a courtship. The tune is called "Dreams Come Alive" and can be found on all the major music websites (YouTube link below).

 

"Dreams Come Alive" on YouTube

Photo/video courtesy of UPtv

'I Love You to Piz-zas' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "I Love you to Piz-zas!"

• Katie, Gil, and Kelly arrive at the Clark home in Berlin, New Jersey, to celebrate Travis’ 19^th birthday. They go out for ice cream at Sundaes because Travis knows that Katie loves ice cream.
• Gil takes the opportunity to boast about Travis. “He treats me…and the whole family with respect,” says Gil. “And listen, there’s a lot of people in our family that are not easy to get along with, and you even treat them nice. I’m going to give you an A+ on character.”
• Later, the extended Clark family comes over for dinner and cookie cake. Would Katie want to live in New Jersey if she marries Travis? “I’m happy to live anywhere,” she says “We’ll have to wait and see. But New Jersey would be fine. I like the people there. Person.”
• In Blackwood, New Jersey, the Clarks and Bates go ax throwing. Travis, who grew up playing sports, scores most of the points for his team, but Katie adds a few to bring their total up to 14. Travis’ parents, Mike and Carla, score 33. Gil and Kelly reach 20 points, and 11 of those are scored by Kelly.
• Travis and Katie and their parents go out to a nice restaurant. Katie and Travis sit down at a private table, where Travis has displayed a sign that reads, ‘I think you are SENSE-ational.’ He gives Katie five gifts that correspond with the five senses. The “sight” gift is a photo collage on canvas. The “taste” gift is a fresh-baked pizza. The “smell” gift is perfume.
• The “sound” gift is a framed paper with the words to a song called “Dreams Come Alive” that Travis wrote about Katie. He pulls out his guitar and plays it. “Cause you’re perfect and precious and my whole world, an angel in my eyes, my dream girl.”
• “I can’t believe you wrote me a song,” says Katie. “This is the sweetest thing in the whole world.”
• The final gift is a necklace. Katie starts to cry. “I wanted to ask you if you would be my girlfriend?” asks Travis. The parents are thrilled when she says yes.
• “This has been the best night of my life,” says Katie, who is proud to call Travis her official boyfriend. “It is so nice actually having a name on it.”
• “There’s something just really special watching your siblings find their person,” says older sister Michael, beaming.
• In Tennessee, Erin, Whitney, and Carlin and their husbands are trying to find a new space for the boutique. They have already outgrown the small warehouse on Zach and Whitney’s property and are considering opening a storefront in Rocky Top.