Gil and Kelly Bates Welcome Baby No. 19, Catch Up to Family Friends The Duggars

The Duggars aren’t the only family in their neck of the woods to welcome 19 children into the world, family friends Gil and Kelly Bates caught up to them on Feb. 1 when Jeb Colton was born into this world at 7 lbs., 8 oz.

Speaking to PEOPLE Gil, 47, said of the birth:

“You would think with your 19th child, you wouldn’t get excited and nervous. But I was as nervous with this baby as I was with our first.”

The Duggars and the Bates have been friends for decades and the family has even appeared on the families 19 Kids and Counting series on TLC.

The Bates will also have a one-hour special on March 27 which will air after the 19 Kids and Counting finale.

Among the families children are Jeb, Zach, 23; Michaella, 22; Erin, 20; Lawson, 19; Nathan, 18; Alyssa, 17; Tori,16; Trace, 15; Carlin, 13; Josie, 12; Katie, 11; Jackson, 9; Warden, 8; Isaiah, 7; Addallee, 5; Ellie, 4; Callie, 2 and Judson, 1.

In the meantime Kelly, 45, couldn’t be happier, revealing:

“It is very exciting, and we’re nervous, too.” While she also revealed of the families upcoming 1-hour special, “our biggest desire is to be real. The Duggars have helped people. We talked it over with the children, and everyone likes the idea of helping others. It is not wonderful all the time. We have the same struggles everyone has.”

The Bates say that when they married 25 years ago they had planned on having a “normal family” with maybe two or three kids, that number quickly snowballed after Zach was conceived 3 months into their marriage. Just like the Duggars they decided to “trust god” with their family planning decisions which led them to baby number 19.