Bringing Up Bates’ Zach Bates, Whitney Bates Expecting Baby No. 6

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Zach Bates and Whitney Bates are growing their brood. 

Zach Bates, the oldest of William and Kelly Jo Bates’ 19 children, and his wife announced they are expecting their sixth baby. They included their children – Bradley (10), Kaci (9), Khloé (5), Jadon (4), and Lily (2) – in sharing the happy news.

In a video posted to Instagram on September 25th, a couple shared a playful saying: “One’s company, two’s a crowd, three’s a party, four’s a circus, five’s a team.”

It was such a heartwarming moment! One by one, all of our kids gathered around, and then we held up the ultrasound showing our newest little one. We were so excited to announce we’re becoming a family of eight, and we joked that six kids already felt like a full team!

The couple announced they’re expecting a baby in the spring of 2026 on their shared social media account.

I was so thrilled to hear Zach and Whitney’s wonderful news! It’s been a bit of an emotional time for the whole Bates family lately, though. We’re all celebrating the arrival of Zach’s sister Carlin’s third baby with Evan Stewart, but we’re also sending so much love and support to another sister who’s been dealing with a really scary health issue.

Erin Bates is recovering after a serious infection called sepsis developed following the birth of her seventh child with husband Chad Paine in August.

Chad shared that the past three weeks have been incredibly emotional and unlike anything he and his family could have imagined, in an update about Erin’s health earlier this month.

I was absolutely gutted hearing that they still don’t *know* what’s wrong with Erin, but honestly, even with that, hearing her doctors are hopeful she’ll make a full recovery after she leaves the hospital on September 13th… it just gives me so much hope too. I’m just praying for her!

He shared in a YouTube video on September 22nd that people are responding well to the situation. While they haven’t pinpointed the specific issues causing difficulties, they are still requesting prayers for guidance and resolution.

Erin, for her part, shared that she is getting “the best medicine” from her newborn, Henry. 

As she wrote in a Sept. 25 Instagram post, “I will never get tired of the baby snuggles.”

For a deeper look into the Bates family, keep reading… 

William “Gil” Bates, a wrestling champion from South Carolina, met his future wife, Kelly Callaham, while both were students at Anderson University. Kelly was assigned to tutor Gil in Chemistry, and they quickly connected. They got engaged in October 1987 while finishing their studies at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, and married just two months later. The couple didn’t plan to have a large family, and didn’t use birth control, believing they would trust God to determine how many children they had. Gil later told *Dateline* in 2011 that they initially expected to have only two or three children.

As a family lifestyle expert, I’ve seen plenty of large families, but the Bates are truly something special! Their first son, Zachary, arrived just a year after their wedding, and in 2012, they welcomed their 19th child, a son named Jeb. When it comes to remembering all nineteen kids’ names, mom Kelly jokes that her husband, Gil-who runs Bates Tree Service-has the better memory! He’s the family’s official name-caller, and honestly, I don’t blame him for needing a little help!

Zachary, born on December 30, 1988, was homeschooled along with his siblings and studied at Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles. While his early courtship with Sarah Reith was featured on *19 Kids and Counting*, he eventually married Whitney Perkins, whom he met while she worked as a carhop at Sonic. They began courting in 2013 and were married that December, with John-David Duggar as one of the groomsmen. Together, they have six children: sons Bradley (born October 2014) and Jayden (born June 2021), and daughters Kaci (born June 2016), Khloé (born November 2019), and Lily Jo (born August 2023).

Besides his work with the family history company, Zachary has also been a police officer, a county commissioner, and a real estate agent.

Born on January 23, 1990, just thirteen months after her brother, Michaela Bates Keilen developed a knack for sewing at a young age, often making dresses for her family and helping with the laundry. She and her future husband, Brandon Keilen, dated for two years before he could propose-waiting until he finished bible college-and they became engaged in April 2015.

After getting married in Chicago that August, the couple faced difficulties trying to start a family. Michaela openly shared their challenges with fertility on her blog and YouTube channel. Following a miscarriage in 2021, they began fostering two young boys.

Growing up, I honestly can’t find a single negative thing about how my parents raised me. I was born on May 2nd, 1991, and thinking back, it was all so positive. We just made the best memories as a family, and I’m so grateful for that. That’s how I feel when I look back on my childhood – just really good times.

Growing up without a TV didn’t feel like a loss, she explained. Instead, her family spent that time playing with their dad, enjoying games together, and creating memories. She believes this actually made them more resourceful and intelligent.

After marrying Charles Paine III (known as Chad) in 2013, the couple hoped to have a large family. Unfortunately, a blood clotting disorder caused several miscarriages before they welcomed their first child, Carson, in May 2015. They went on to have Brooklyn (August 2016), Everly (May 2018), Holland (November 2019), and Finley (January 2022). Despite believing they couldn’t have any more children, their family continued to grow with William (October 2023) and Henry (August 2025). Following Henry’s birth, Erin experienced septic shock, and Chad shared on Instagram, asking for prayers for her recovery.

Lawson Bates, born on July 27, 1992, started his own lawn care business, Lawson’s Lawncare, when he was just 13 years old. He gained some attention after interacting with Jana Duggar on Instagram, but later announced he was engaged to Tiffany Espensen. He proposed during a trip to Italy in October 2021. Bates told *People* magazine that getting to know Espensen – her personality, interests, and goals – had been the best experience of his life, and they’d created many happy memories together over the past year.

The couple got married on a yacht near San Diego in May 2022. They experienced a miscarriage before welcoming their son, William, in July 2024. Just under a year later, they announced they were expecting another baby.

Nathan Bates was born on August 29, 1993. He first became known to viewers through his courtship with Ashley Salyer on the show *Bringing Up Bates*, but he later proposed to Esther Keyes in May 2021. They married in October of that year, continuing a family tradition by sharing their first kiss at the wedding ceremony. The couple welcomed their daughter, Kenna, a year later, and their son, Graham, in October 2024. Nathan felt called to ministry from a young age and has pursued that through mission trips and work as a first responder.

Alyssa Bates Webster, born on November 9, 1994, played a key role in her family, handling secretarial duties, shopping for clothes, and often preparing meals. She met John Webster while working on the campaign of his father, Florida Congressman Daniel Webster. They became engaged in January 2014, celebrating at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Orlando, and married that May. The couple, who live in Florida, have five children: Alli (born April 2015), Lexi (born January 2017), Zoey (born March 2018), Maci (born February 2021), and Rhett (born March 2023).

Tori Bates Smith was born on December 20, 1995, a year after her older sister. She began dating Bobby Smith in 2016, and their relationship was documented on her family’s reality show. They married in December 2017, shortly after getting engaged. Tori, a graduate of Crown College of the Bible with a degree in elementary education, and Bobby have five children: Robert IV (born November 2018), Kolter (born May 2020), Charlotte (born June 2021), Cambree (born August 2022), and Weston (born May 2024).

Trace Bates, whose name means “harvester of the white fields,” was born on February 1, 1997. He met his future wife, Lydia Romeike, after being introduced by his sister, Josie Bates Balka, following a televised courtship with Chaney Kahle. They announced their engagement in March 2022 on YouTube, with Trace sharing that Lydia was his best friend and a positive influence in his life. They married in October 2022 with 350 guests in attendance, including Jason Duggar who served as an usher. Their son, Ryker, was born in October 2023, and they welcomed their daughter, Kaia, in June 2025.

Carlin Bates Stewart was born on April 11, 1998, and she graduated high school with her brother, Trace, after taking some college courses while still in high school. She met her husband, Evan Stewart, through her sister, Erin, and they got engaged in September 2018. They married in May 2019, with Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth as a bridesmaid. Their daughter, Layla, was born in January 2020 and was featured on the show *Bringing Up Bates*. Their son, Zade, arrived in March 2022, and they welcomed their third child in September 2025.

Gil and Kelly welcomed their tenth child on August 4, 1999. She later met Kelton Balka at a piano recital in 2014, and they became friends. Their relationship turned romantic in 2017, and they got engaged in June 2018 – the proposal was even filmed! They married in October of the same year, also with cameras rolling. They have three children: Willow, born in July 2019, Hazel, born in June 2021, and Miles, born in February 2024. They announced they are expecting another child in April 2025.

Katie Bates Clark was born on October 5, 2000, and her name means “pure grace.” She announced her relationship with Travis Clark on Facebook Live in 2019 and shared that they got engaged by the ocean in April 2021. They married in December 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Hailey, in February 2023, followed by their son, Harvey, in September 2024. Katie is a licensed cosmetologist, having graduated from The Crown College, and she works as a stylist for her sister Josie’s company, Effortless Beauty, as well as a model for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Jackson Bates, along with Warden and Isaiah Bates (often referred to as the ‘three musketeers’), was born on February 17, 2002. He met his future wife, Emerson Wells, at a rodeo in Florida, and they announced their engagement in March 2023. They married in October of that year, with Jason Duggar as a groomsman, and welcomed their son, David, in July 2025.

Born on May 19, 2003, Warden is known for his energetic personality – people call him “Tigger”! He enjoys playing sports and singing, and he’s worked hard, helping out with both his dad’s excavating company and Paine Construction, where his brother-in-law, Chad, works.

The third member of the team joined on October 16, 2004. After graduating from Crown College in 2023 with a certificate in Christian foundations, and working for both his father and brother-in-law Chad, he started his own lawn care company in 2022.

Born prematurely on February 17, 2006, Addalee Bates faced breathing difficulties and requires hearing aids. After spending time in the NICU, her parents intentionally added extra letters to her name as a reminder of her second chance at life. She finished a year-long bible study program in 2025.

Ellie Bates, whose name means “strong light,” became a member of the team on April 28, 2007. She frequently models for photos used by Bates Sisters Boutique.

Callie-Anna Bates, the youngest daughter of Gil and Kelly, was born on August 2, 2009. Kelly described her as the most outgoing of their children, saying on Instagram in 2020 that people are naturally attracted to Callie-Anna’s personality.

Kelly wrote on Instagram in December 2020 that Jud Bates has quickly grown up since joining them on September 15, 2010. He’s faced a couple of injuries, breaking his right collarbone twice – once while playing football and again while riding his e-bike.

Oh my gosh, Jeb Bates! He completed the family when he was born on February 1st, 2012, but he had a little stay in the NICU. It’s just so sweet – even after nineteen kids, Gil told *People* magazine he was just as nervous and excited for Jeb as he was with their very first baby! Can you imagine? It still gets to him after all these years, it’s so adorable!

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2025-09-26 18:21