Graham Bates' Birth Story

It isn't often that we hear from Nathan and Esther Bates. On October 4th, they welcomed their second child, Graham Alan Bates, so they have spent the winter adjusting to life as a family of four. The proud parents of two just uploaded Graham's birth story to their YouTube account. You'll see footage from Esther's labor and delivery, and you'll watch the sweet moment when big sister Kenna Bates meets her baby brother. 

Graham was born 13 days before Kenna's second birthday and 10 days before Esther turned 27. Graham shares a middle name with Rhett Webster, while Kenna Joy shares a middle name with Esther, Alyssa Webster, and Zoey Webster. 

The Stewarts Share Their News

Last week, we shared Carlin and Evan Stewart's big news. They are expecting their third child in September! The parents of Layla and Zade Stewart were bubbling over with joy and could hardly wait to tell their kids and their extended family. In their latest YouTube video, you'll see footage from some of the reveals.

In the Kitchen with Mama Bates

Kelly Bates joins her oldest child, Zach Bates, as a guest on his YouTube cooking show, but instead of preparing a meal, Zach interviews his mom. Kelly starts by telling the story of her recent health scare and providing an update on how she's doing. Then the two discuss the Bates' reality TV show, I Love You Day 2025, Zach's picky eating, raising boys, and some of their favorite dishes to cook. At 19:00, Kelly answers a question about her grandchildren, but she has to put her hand over her mouth because she's concerned that she has spilled the beans on an announcement. 

Bates Kitchen: Questions and Answers with Momma Batess

Baby Stewart Coming In September

Carlin and Evan Stewart announced yesterday that they are expecting their third baby. If you would like more details, you can watch their latest YouTube video. Carlin's tentative due date is September 24, 2025.

Stewarts Announce Baby #3

Carlin and Evan Stewart made a big announcement today. They are expecting their third child! This baby will join five-year-old Layla Stewart and three-year-old Zade Stewart (whose birthday is in March). Carlin had significant health struggles following Zade’s birth, and for a while the Stewarts were unsure whether they would have more children. 

Keilens on I Love You Day and Upcoming Children's Book

Michaela and Brandon Keilen paused their video creating for the month of January, but they are back. Their latest YouTube video is a Q&A. They discuss I Love You Day, the Bates' annual Valentine's Day party. The family will celebrate later this year, due to Kelly Bates' health scare.  The theme is the '50s. The Keilens also mention the children's book that they are working on, and they provide other updates, too.

Bates Ski Trip 2025

A couple weeks ago, the Bates family took their annual ski vacation out west. Not everyone attends every year, but it still ends up being a good sized group. If you have watched Bringing Up Bates, the Bates' reality TV show that aired from 2015-2021, you know that this trip has been a tradition for quite a few years. The Clarks and Stewarts both uploaded YouTube videos of footage from this year's trip (links below), which took place in Utah. At the ends of Katie and Travis' video, you'll also hear Gil and Kelly Bates share some marriage tips.  

Katie and Travis Clark: Bates Ski Trip

Carlin and Evan Stewart: Bates Ski Trip

Stewarts Take a Disney Cruise

Carlin and Evan Stewart and their children just returned from their first Disney Cruise. Layla Stewart turned five years old while they were at sea, while Zade Stewart will turn three in March. You can hear all about the magical trip on the family's latest YouTube video, which is 30 minutes long.

Trace and Lydia are Having a...

Trace and Lydia Bates have just revealed the gender of their baby, due June 13th. Surrounded by family, they sat down with a filled cake and allowed Ryker Bates, who turns two in September, to pull pieces off until everyone could see the color inside. Pink means girl! Congratulations to the Bates and Romeike families. Trace and Lydia uploaded a video to YouTube.

Baby Bates Due June 13th

Trace and Lydia Bates are gearing up to become a family of four in less than five months. They sat down to answer questions about the pregnancy, the gender of their baby, and Ryker. Lydia's due date is June 13th, which means that Ryker will be just three months shy of turning two. Both Trace and Lydia come from big families and are looking forward to having two children who are close in age. Stay tuned for a gender reveal in just a few weeks!

 

 

Kelly's Septic Scare

Last week, Kelly Bates drove to South Carolina to visit Papa Bill and Mama Jane, as she does frequently due to Papa Bill's deteriorating health. While she was there, the back pain that she had been experiencing suddenly became a lot worse. She was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a kidney stone and a kidney infection, which turned septic and landed her in the ICU. Gil quickly drove in from Tennessee and refused to leave his wife's side. The Bates kids and grandchildren began arriving, as Kelly's condition worsened and it was unclear whether she would recover. After a lot of prayer, quality care from the hospital staff, and plenty of encouragement from her beloved family, Kelly started to turn a corner. She had her second surgery two days ago and was released from the hospital yesterday. Join us in praising God for her miraculous recovery. Trace and Lydia Bates made a video detailing the situation.

The Clarks Buy Their Dream Home

Katie and Travis Clark moved from New Jersey to the Knoxville area last March, and they have been living in an apartment since they arrived. With help from their real estate agent, Zach Bates, they have officially purchased what they call their dream home. You can see some quick glimpses of the house in their latest YouTube video.

Websters Leave YouTube

Alyssa and John Webster have been creating content on YouTube for almost six years. They have enjoyed giving fans a glimpse into their lives, including birthdays, the arrival of new babies, house projects, travel, and just basic everyday life. However, they just uploaded a "Goodbye" video and have announced that they are stepping away from YouTube. The Websters explain that as their kids get older, they want to give them more privacy. They also mention that now that their children are able to read, the negative comments are much more concerning to them. They might still upload videos of big moments but will no longer be sharing regular videos.

Paines Make Their Move

Erin and Chad Paine announced in September that they would be moving out of their rental home in Florida, but it took them quite a while to decide where they would be going. In honor of New Year's they have just shared the details of their next step. They thought they might be moving back to Tennessee, but God closed that door, so they are staying in Florida--at least for the time being. The Paines' new rental home is in a subdivision, which will be a big adjustment for all of them. You'll see footage from their move and some shots of the house in their latest YouTube video.