Joy-Anna Duggar Congratulates BFF Carlin Bates on the Birth of Her Baby
The Bates family just got a little bit bigger. Carlin Bates of Bringing Up Bates and her husband Evan Stewart welcomed their first child on Jan. 31. Daughter Layla Rae arrived at 3:56 p.m. and weighed 5 lbs, 13 oz., Us Weekly reported.
Bates, 21, and Stewart, 24, married in May 2019. In September, they announced they were expecting their first child.
Joy-Anna Duggar congratulates her BFF
When Bates shared the news of her baby’s birth on Instagram, her close friend Joy-Anna Duggar was among the many to congratulate her.
“SO happy for y’all!!💖 can’t wait to meet her!!,” the Counting On star wrote.
“I can’t wait for you to meet her 💓 xo,” Bates replied.
Duggar shared a longer message of congratulations on her own Instagram, writing, “I loved hearing you talk about the anticipation of meeting Layla Rae, and now seeing you hold her makes my heart so happy… the love that you both have for her radiates through you!! You and Evan are already such great parents!”
Joy-Anna Duggar wasn’t the only member of her family congratulating Bates on her bundle of joy. Jill Duggar also chimed in with her well wishes. So did Josiah and Lauren Duggar, who commented, “So excited for y’all! She is precious.”
Joy-Anna Duggar and Carlin Bates have been friends for years
Duggar, 22, and Bates, have been friends for years, which isn’t surprising when you consider the similarities between their two families. Both women are one of 19 kids and come from conservative, Christian backgrounds. And of course, both have appeared on reality TV shows.
Last year, Duggar traveled to Tennessee to be a bridesmaid in her BFF’s wedding. Bates was also a bridesmaid at Duggar’s 2017 wedding to Austin Forsyth. The friends even nearly shared an anniversary. Duggar’s wedding date was May 26, while Bates got married on May 25.
Bates supported Duggar during a difficult time
Duggar’s sweet message of congratulations for her friend is just the latest show of support between the two. In addition to being there for happy events like weddings, the two women lean on each other in difficult times.
When Duggar experienced a miscarriage at 20 weeks in the summer of 2019, Bates traveled to Arkansas to be with her friend. She stepped up and helped the grieving mom prepare for a emotional photoshoot with her stillborn baby.
“Thank you, @carlinbates98 for coming to town to be here for me and for doing my hair and makeup for pictures with our little girl!💖” Duggar wrote on Instagram when she shared the heartbreaking photos.
“I wish there were words to express how broken hearted I am for my best friend,” Bates wrote on Instagram. “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.”
“I’m so grateful to have a friend as precious as Joy,” she added.
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