‘Bringing Up Bates’: Joy-Anna Duggar Congratulates BFF Carlin Bates on Her Pregnancy
Carlin Bates and her husband Evan Stewart are expecting their first child. The 21-year-old mom-to-be announced the happy news September 4. She and Stewart, 24, married on May 25.
Bates is over the moon to be expecting, writing in an Instagram post that learning she was pregnant was another amazing development in a year that has been “a whirlwind of excitement.”
Carlin Bates says she feels ‘blessed’ to be pregnant
Bates has had a busy year, first with her wedding and now with a baby on the way.
‘[J]ust when I think life can’t get crazier, busier, or happier, I find out I’m pregnant!” the Bringing Up Bates star wrote. “I feel so grateful and in awe of the miracle of a tiny life growing inside of me! I can’t imagine that my life could be any more blessed!”
Joy-Anna Duggar is happy for her friend
After Bates made her big announcement, congratulations rolled in on social media, including from her close friend Joy-Anna Duggar.
“😍😍 yayyyy!!!👏🏼👏🏼 SOOOOO happy!!!!❤️😘” wrote the Counting On star in response to the news that Bates was expecting.
Bates responded that she planned on turning to her friend for advice on pregnancy and being a mom.
“daw…love you, Joy!” she wrote. “We are so excited and nervous! Give me all the tips.”
Duggar and Bates are long-time friends. Duggar was bridesmaid in Bates’ wedding and Bates was there for Duggar earlier this summer after she gave birth to a stillborn daughter at 20 weeks. Bates traveled from her home in Tennessee to Arkansas to be with her friend during the difficult time.
“I wish there were words to express how broken hearted I am for my best friend,” Bates wrote on Instagram at the time. “Seeing her give birth to her little girl, Annabell Elise, and knowing that she would never be able to hold her again while on earth just brings tears to my eyes.”
Other Duggars also congratulated Bates
The Bates and Duggar families have been close for years, so it’s no surprise that other Duggars also chimed in with their congratulations.
“Congratulations!!!! I’m so happy for you!” wrote Anna Duggar.
“Congratulations! So excited for y’all! Growing a little life is truly a miracle!” Josiah and Lauren Duggar commented.
“Yay!! So happy for y’all. And such cute pics!” Jill Duggar chimed in.
A Bates baby boom
Carlin Bates isn’t the only member of her family who is expecting. Her sister Erin and sister-in-law Whitney are also pregnant.
Bates also shares something less wonderful with her sister. She learned she has the same blood clotting disorder as Erin, she told People, which was frightening. Thankfully, the baby is doing well.
“I’m just feeling such an immense feeling of gratitude to be carrying this little life,” she told the magazine. “I think it really hit us that we’re going to be parents when we saw the ultrasound and heard the heartbeat. Words can’t express the emotions you feel, knowing there is a little life that’s carrying your genes and DNA growing inside of you.”
