Bringing Up Bates"Ultrasounds, Wedding Vows & a Bride to Be?"
- Erin, Everly, Carlin, and Josie meet at Whitney’s house to eat food and catch up. “The good thing about living close to the family is us girls can take days that we can just spend together and talk and chitchat about what’s going on in our lives,” says Whitney. “I just needed girl time…”
- What does Erin think about life with three kids? “Eighty percent of it is amazing, and then the last 20 percent is really hard,” she says. “You’ll be wanting to pull your hair out.”
- After eating, the ladies plant succulents and discuss the latest Bates news. Nathan is hoping to go to helicopter school, while Trace is following in Zach’s footsteps at the sheriff’s department.
- “I always love spending time with my sisters,” says Erin. “And really, they’re more than just my sisters. They’re really my best friends.”
- Kelly and Josie meet with friend/wedding planner Kim Nafziger to discuss the details of Josie's upcoming nuptials. As usual, there is a lot to do in a short amount of time.
- Carlin, accompanied by Katie, visits Evan in Springfield (a town just north of Nashville) for his 23rd birthday. On a deck of cards, Carlin writes down a bunch of reason why she loves Evan.
- The next day, they play a round of putt-putt with Evan’s family. The Stewarts are very serious about mini golf, so serious that they even bring their own putters. “I love how competitive Carlin is because I’m competitive,” says Evan. “I bug her if she misses, she bugs me if I miss. We have fun doing it.” The two lovebirds end the game in a tie.
- Gil and Kelly meet Tori and Bobby at Over the Womb in Hendersonville (just outside Nashville) for a 4D ultrasound. Tori is 27 weeks along, and although she saw the baby at 19 weeks, she is looking forward to getting a better view. The baby is still breech, but the technician says he has plenty of time to turn.
- “I honestly think Tori will make one of the best moms,” says Erin.
- Tori says she really wants Kade to have hair because she had lots, but Bobby was a bald baby.
- While Gil and Kelly are in the area, Evan takes them to El Molcajete, his favorite Mexican restaurant. “Carlin and I have been together for almost two years now,” Evan tells Gil and Kelly. “I’ve just grown to love her so much, and nothing will ever change that, and we know that we both feel that it’s God’s will for us to get married, if that be your will. So I just wanted to personally ask for your permission if I can propose to Carlin.”
- Gil pauses for several moments to build the suspense but finally gives permission for Evan to pursue a proposal. Evan is planning to pop the question in September, before Josie’s October wedding.
- It’s the day of Zach and Whitney’s vow renewal renewal. “I’m thinking it’s going to go smoothly, but we’ll see,” says Whitney.” The event will take place at Hunter Valley Farms, an outdoor venue in Knoxville.
- Whitney’s parents, JC and Lynn, were unable to come to Whitney’s wedding, so this vow renewal will be very special for them, as well as for Whitney and Zach.
- “One of my biggest regrets in life was some decisions that I made when I was younger…that just led me down a road of guilt and heartache and loneliness,” says Whitney. “I hurt myself, I hurt my family. As I got older and I married Zach and the Lord was just dealing with my heart, I knew that I had to go to home and I had to make things right. It’s just like a burden, after so many years, has just been lifted. This day is just, it’s like the start of a new life, that I can start the next chapter.”
- On the day of the vow renewal, Josie arrives at the venue to do Whitney’s hair, and Renee Miller arrives with the gown. After the bride gets dressed, she has a first look with her parents. “It was something that I had waited on for so long,” says Whitney. “It was one of the most special things that I’ve ever experienced.”
- Just before the ceremony, Brandon has to run out to the store to buy new sand. The family starts to arrive, and it’s go time.
- Zach and Whitney write their own vows for the occasion, during which they renew the commitments that they made on their wedding day four-and-a-half years ago. “Today, I want to give you my word again to love you and only you, forever and always,” says Zach. “I’m honored and grateful and excited for this chance, with our family and friends, to reaffirm my love for you once again,” echoes Whitney.
- During the sand pouring ceremony, Zach and Whitney, Gil and Kelly, and Whitney’s parents each pour a different color of sand into a jar to symbolize the families coming together.
- After the kiss, Whitney’s dad comes up to pray for the couple. Everyone is balling as Whitney thanks her family and friends for the prayers thanks God for the chance to be able to renew her vows with her parents present “because we never thought that it would happen.”
- The guests enjoy food and fellowship at the reception, and Bradley makes a big announcement, “Mommy have a baby in the belly.”