Recap: Addee and Ellie's Pool party

Both Gil and Kelly try to spend one on one time with each other of their children. Gil is taking Josie for a private tennis lesson while Kelly takes Trace clothes shopping. Gil grew up playing tennis ad is happy that his daughter is wanting to learn a new skill.
Kelly reveals that the kids are picky about what clothes they were. Kelly feels like an old lady while shopping with her kids. Trace is graduating from high school in the winter and Kelly wants to know if he wants to work with Gil but he says that he is not really big for tree business. Kelly would love for her son to take a few classes at the college where Tori attends. Gil and Kelly have agreed that they would pay for the first semester but she assures him that it's his choice what he wants to do.
Trace thanks his mom for taking him shopping and he had amazing time with his mom.
Addee and Ellie are getting ready to celebrate their birthdays since they wanted to have a pool party. Addee and Ellie's birthdays are in February and April. Gil and Kelly decided to wait for summer to fulfill their wish about having a pool party. Whit's mom has a pool and invited the family over for a swim.
Lawson reveals that his parents have always tried to make every birthday special especially for the little ones. Gil and Kelly take the birthday kid out to a restaurant and then let them have a party with the family and friends.
The family is enjoying the pool and Zach wants to know where the cake is. Gil was supposed to getting the food on Kelly's list. He chose to buy two boxes of cake mix and brought them to the party.
Lawson jokes with his father about who is going to make the cake however Kelly assures her husband that he did good with the things that he got right.
Michaella shows up with a store brought cake and the family shares praises of the birthday girls. The family has made sharing the good of the birthday girls.
“If you’ve ever heard of constructive criticism, it doesn’t feel too constructive if you’re the one getting it,” says Gil. “But praise, or encouragement…is a powerful, powerful thing.”
“Affirmation from other people, when it’s real, means so much,” shares Nathan.

Bates Family Blog - A Strong Support System

Hi y’all!

Considering my sister Michael is head over her heels in wedding plans, I thought I’d blog on behalf of the family tonight. Hope that’s okay! I have to say, while seeing yourself on TV never gets comfortable, it’s amazing to see how much God has brought us through and it gives me hope and comfort that whatever I may be going through, it’s temporary and this too shall pass.

In tonight’s episode, I was 34 weeks pregnant and early one morning, started having contractions. It’s fairly common for pregnant women to experience contractions weeks before labor but with a high-risk pregnancy, you just can’t take any chances so I woke Chad up, he called Dr. Vick and we headed to the hospital. Once we got to the hospital, I was given medicine and then more medicine to try and stop the contractions and they gave baby Carson a steroid shot to help his lung development. It was a long day but our baby was safe and that was all that mattered to me.

Right after our trip to the hospital, Dr. Vick decided weekly visits were in order so Monday’s became days we anticipated and quite honestly, days we feared. My heart and mind just couldn’t help but wonder if today would be a day when something wouldn’t be okay. Thankfully, I’m married to the man God meant for me and his love and support carried me through. There’s nothing sweeter than seeing your baby on the ultrasound and each time we got to see our baby boy moving inside me, our fears froze. Perfect love casts out all fear.

Thank you all for your prayers, your support and your love and keep watching, things are just about to get really good!

Brandon & Michaella

  Many have asked for an update on the courting couple. They have had several visits together and have spent lots of time writing, sending care packages, and thinking of each other! Brandon is super creative; when a package comes, it’s usually filled with many extra special touches that show his talent and his tender heart: gifts wrapped with ribbons and flowers, scrolls with sweet messages,  artwork, DVDs with photos and songs written to celebrate their times together…all so very sentimental and touching! This week Brandon celebrates his 25th birthday, so “Happy birthday” to a wonderful, Godly young man that has won our daughter’s heart!