Bringing Up Bates "Big Decision, Bigger Opinions"
- The entire family is in town, so they all gather at Norris Dam for an outdoor dinner. While setting up the food, Gil comes across a stack of envelopes. He tries to keep them a secret, but Kelly and Erin are onto him.
- Kelly can’t contain herself. “What is that?” she demands. “Just give me mine, please!” An engagement? A new baby? Or maybe Nathan or Lawson have girlfriends?
- “I knew right away when the cards went out that this wasn’t ours,” says Zach. “At least I looked at Whitney real sure, and ya, she was sure. And Erin’s already pregnant.”
- Inside the envelopes is a card with a poem: “10 little fingers, 10 little toes, 2 little eyes, 1 little nose. Put them together and what do you got? Our baby on the way, ready or not! Due April 2018.” Alyssa is pregnant and due just a few weeks before Erin!
- “I’m not going to lie, I was very surprised when I found out that I was pregnant again,” says Alyssa. “I am excited, but it did take me a little bit to be like, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m pregnant again. I’m having a third kid.’”
- “When the announcement came, a lot of people were secretly hoping, maybe this is Michael making an announcement here,” says Zach. “That’s gotta be so hard.”
- Alyssa had shared the news with Michael ahead of time by phone. “She was just really sweet and sensitive to call ahead of time knowing everything we’ve been going through,” says Michael. “And we were just really tickled for them.”
- Before the Bates leave the park, Kelly reminds the girls not to overwhelm Tori with too many opinions while she is trying on wedding dresses.
- The next day, the ladies arrive at Renee’s shop for goodies and girl time. Tori has her hair and makeup done while the other girls try on bridesmaids dresses. “For me being a sister-in-law, it’s just really special that Tori included me,” says Whitney.
- The bridesmaids gowns are gorgeous. Renee has sewn three different styles (all long length) in the same color (a beautiful shade of purple). Each girl chooses the style they want to wear.
- After Tori is all dolled up, she starts trying on bridal gowns. The first dress is fitted, has long sleeves, and is lacy with a champagne-colored layer underneath.
- “I’ve been to those wedding dress fittings, and, hey, I’ve tried to tell them, you try on one you like, don’t try on another,” says Lawson. “That’s just like, if you find a girl you like, stick with her. The shopping is over.” Nathan agrees.
- The second dress is similar but is pure white and has a heavier lace. Most of the ladies strongly prefer this dress over the previous one, but Tori prefers the first. She tries on another pure white gown, but she still really loves the first dress.
- Tori ends up choosing the first dress, with a few small changes. “Looking up there at her and seeing my little tomboy Tori, and I’m thinking, ‘Where did the years go? She’s fixin’ to get married!’” says Kelly.