Carlin Bates, well known for her appearances on the reality show “Bringing Up Bates,” has announced that she is expecting her fourth child with her husband, Evan Stewart. The happy couple, who already share three children—Zade Patrick, aged four, and daughters Layla Rae, six, and 13-month-old Navy Kate—are set to welcome their new addition in May.
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The news was confirmed by a representative for the couple, who shared their excitement with PEOPLE magazine. Carlin, 28, recounted the surprising moment she discovered her pregnancy. A playful gift exchange with Evan turned serious when he jokingly bought her a pregnancy test. Taking the test later that day, whilst entertaining their youngest child, Carlin was taken aback to see a positive result.
“I usually love planning something cute to tell Evan, but I was so surprised I immediately told him,” she revealed. The joy of the unexpected news quickly replaced the initial shock. Carlin expressed that this new baby feels like the perfect extension of their family, saying, “We truly couldn’t be happier.”
As the couple prepares for this new chapter, they are still undecided about whether to find out the sex of their upcoming child. Carlin shared that, while they learned the genders of their first two children, they enjoyed the surprise with Navy Kate and are weighing their options again. “We found out with two of our babies, but with our tiebreaker, we waited and were surprised. We loved both experiences, which is making the decision even harder this time,” she explained. The couple might choose to wait until around the 20-week mark to make their decision known.
Revealing the pregnancy to family and friends was described by Carlin as one of the sweetest experiences during this time. Coming from a large family, she noted the shared excitement around baby news. Her parents, who are already grandparents to a sizeable number of grandchildren, still express joy and astonishment with each new arrival. “What makes me laugh is that this is somewhere in the late 40s for grandbabies for my parents, and somehow, they’re still shocked and just as excited every single time,” Carlin chuckled.
On the health front, Carlin mentioned that her pregnancy symptoms have been reminiscent of her previous experiences. She typically begins to feel unwell around the six-week mark, and she joked about her preference for labour over the discomfort of pregnancy. “Evan always jokes that I say I’d rather do labour and delivery 100 times than be pregnant because pregnancy just hits me hard,” she shared. When it comes to cravings, she admitted that uninterested in meat, she finds solace in carbohydrates during this pregnancy.
Feeling grateful and excited about the arrival of their fourth child, Carlin elaborated on how everything seems to have fallen into place. The family recently moved into their dream home, offering ample space for their expanding family. “It feels really special knowing we already have the space to fill it with another little blessing,” she noted.
The couple will also be navigating the challenges of having two children under the age of two as they welcome their new baby. “This will also be our first time having two under 2, so that should be… fun,” Carlin said light-heartedly. The family dynamics will certainly shift, as she admitted that managing three children already feels like a full-time job.
In anticipation of the new arrival, Carlin shared how their older children are adjusting to becoming siblings again. “They’ve had the hardest time keeping the baby in Mommy’s belly a secret, so think we’re all a little relieved the news is finally out,” she shared. The opportunity to raise their children together remains central to the couple’s joy, and they look forward to the memories that lie ahead. “Getting to raise these babies together is such a gift, and we feel so grateful for this next chapter,” she concluded.
As the Bates family awaits their new addition, they continue to cherish their growing family, embracing each new challenge with joy and enthusiasm.