Bringing Up Bates "A Busy Business and a Baby Bombshell"
- Erin and Chad have an ultrasound to check on their baby girl, Holland Grace Paine. As they have done for their past three children, Erin has chosen the first name, and Chad has picked the middle name. Erin is 22 weeks and five days pregnant. “I think with every pregnancy, there is still a fear,” says Chad. “You know you start having thoughts and flashbacks from the past, and so hearing the heartbeat and seeing the baby’s okay, it’s a great peace of mind every time.”
- “Every day, I feel like we live the most special life,” says Erin. “I love my life, I love our family, and I’m excited about how it’s going to change when we get another baby.”
- “One, I think we’re crazy, but then two, every time I think about a new little baby, I get just as excited as the one before,” says Chad. “Your heart just grows…as the children keep coming, and I love it.”
- Michael arrives at Crown College Cosmetology School to have Katie put caramel highlights in the back section of her hair, so she can look fancy when she puts her hair up for nursing school. Katie is in her last semester and is studying for her state boards.\
- “Originally, I had always wanted to do nursing school. But cosmetology, I actually loved it a lot more than I thought, so I would like to purse cosmetology for a little bit after graduating and just work in a salon for a little bit and get the feel for it. And I would still love to do nursing school, but for now I’m focusing on the cosmetology.”
- Michael will earn her LPN in 11 months and will likely continue on to pursue her RN, depending on circumstances. “I don’t exactly know what field I want to be in with nursing,” says Michael. “I’m hoping through clinicals and just being in the field that I’ll kind of find my niche.” She says that she and Brandon do not plan on moving back to Chicago but that there is a chance they will move somewhere else. They aren’t sure this point.
- During Michael’s hair appointment, Katie spills the beans about the special someone with whom she has been talking for two months. “We’re both 18,” says Katie. “It’s really young and I need all of the adult mind maturing. We’ll see. We’re taking it slow. I don’t want to rush into any relationship. I’m just trying to finish my school and get it together.”
- Travis sings, is from New Jersey, and is starting college. Katie met him through a mutual friend. “He’s like the sweetest human ever, and like the most thoughtful person,” says Katie. “I’m obsessed.”
- Towards the end of the appointment, Katie makes a small mistake. “Some toner got in my eye, and it stung a little, but that’s part of the learning process, and I look back so grateful for all of my patients who let me learn IVs on them and give shots.” says Michael. She is very happy with her hair, and Brandon loves it, too.
- Later, Michael and Brandon help Erin, Whitney, and Carlin unpack a new shipment of dresses. The boxes are taking over Whitney’s house, so they are currently building a small warehouse on Zach and Whitney’s property. “Now that we’ve started this dress boutique, I really think y’all should have called it just Bates and Company because y’all have pretty much hired everybody in the family to work for y’all,” says Zach.
- The Bates family gathers at a local park to grill and hang out. Zach is the new grill master, and he attempts to give Gil some pointers. “Let’s just say, these boys get married, and they think they know everything,” says Gil. “Zach is trying to tell me how to cook.” The rest of the family agrees that Gil’s grill skills aren’t the greatest.
- Evan brings out a pinata to celebrate the August birthdays, but he has forgotten to bring a bat and string. The kids take turns kicking it while Nathan holds it. When the pinata breaks, candy and tiny baby figurines fall out. “It’s pretty crazy,” says Carlin. “I’m still a little shocked.” She and Evan found out that they were expecting the day before Father's Day.
- “Are you ready to be a mom?” jokes Gil.