Friday, July 19, 2019

Welcome, Willow Balka!

The 10th Bates grandchild has arrived safe and sound. Josie (Bates) Balka delivered Willow Kristy Balka this morning, July 19th, at 2:23am. Willow weighed 6lbs 10oz and was 19 inches long.

Today, Felicity Vuolo, daughter of Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo, is celebrating her 1st birthday.

Josie Balka, Kelton Balka, Willow Kristy Balka
Josie Balka, Kelton Balka, Willow Kristy Balka

Photo courtesy of UPtv, the Bates family

95 comments:

  1. Congratulations both of you, God bless all of you and your families.

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  2. MO- I just got an email from UPTV with the good news! So happy to hear everything went well- Such a sweet family! God Bless. :o)

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  3. She is precious. Congratulations Mommy and Daddy.

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  4. Congratulations. She is adorable

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  5. Congratulations to y'all. You look great Josie!

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  6. I AM SOOOOOOO HAPPY, THAT U ARE OK!!!!!!! YAYAY, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

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  7. Good wishes to Josie and Kelton and lovely little Willow.
    This is a wonderful time in your lives - may I say the MOST wonderful time (it was for me).

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  8. Wonderful news!! Thank God for another safe birth and healthy baby. This family is so blessed.

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  9. Congratulations Josie,Kelton on Baby Willow.

    Congratulations to Gil and Kelly Bates on their 10 grandchild and also Congratulations to Mr. Balkan on his 1st grandchild.

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  10. So happy for them! Willow is tiny...just like her momma!

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  11. Beautiful happy family ❣️
    Glad I took call for a dear colleague today. Visited before and after my surgeries as I am an anesthesiologist.
    She's a baby doll ❤️

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  12. While I spent the day with my sick sister :( She's 28, not married yet, and in and out of the doctor and hospital :(
    I believe that Jesus will bring her through her pain and suffering and someday in his perfect timing that will be my sweet sis in the picture with her loving husband and baby :)
    Congrats Josie :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm so sorry praying for your sister and your family

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  13. Josie is 19, had her baby on 07/19/19 and the baby was 19 inches long! How cute is that! Best wishes to the Balka and Bates families.

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  14. Baby looks like a doll. What's with all these 1st timers going early? I was 12 days late! She'll be 3 months old by their 1st anniversary.
    Definitely livin the dream


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    Replies
    1. With my 1st I was 5 days early and with my second I was 1 day late. Total myth that the 1st comes late and the second come early

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    2. I don't think it's a myth, I think it's a factual generalization that first babies usually come late.

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  15. Wow! Congratulations!!! I’ve got my grand baby due any day now! Exciting!!!

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  16. She is so precious!!! And you look great! I wish I could have looked that good after labor and delivery!!!

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  17. Congrats you 2! She's ADORABLE! Look at that hair! So happy for you 3! Welcome to the world little Willow Kristy! It's my niece's birthday today too!

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  18. A bow hairband on her brand new head!! Seriously?? She's hrs old sheesh!! We know it's a girl. I thought they were all laid back and au natural?

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    Replies
    1. Not sure why there's such a strong reaction to a simple hair bow.

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    2. I know right? Natural is best.
      My opinion.
      b4 someone feels the need to be derogatory and post "it's their baby they can do what they want" etc etc etc...
      I just took care of that.

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    3. Did you notice that mom and baby are color coordinated?

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    4. Anonymous @7:46pm. The hairbow is really cute.
      Why are you been so mean about.

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    5. Ladies please!
      We all have opinions and that's ok. Let's respect other's opinions and let it go.
      This is a baby announcement with pic of the beautiful .
      new family.
      Let's focus on the love.

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    6. 7:46- Willow is her daughter and she can dress her anyway she wants. Really she can.

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    7. I respect peoples opinions, but I think the bow looks perfectly fine! My aunt did that when she had her baby girl recently and I think it’s just flat out adorable!

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    8. 7:46 -- You'd best not read the newspapers or watch the news if you react so strongly to a simple headband, tee hee

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    9. I'm just happy they are good catholic christian parents who will raise her up lovingly no matter what she wears

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    10. Yes, what Faith Caldwell said. I'm going to focus on how sweet baby girl looks in her adorable bow, matching her mom. I'm happy that Josie gets to have this fun with her.

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    11. @7:04 They aren’t Catholic...,

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    12. We are very close friends with them

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  19. Congratulations! She is so tiny and adorable. Sending good, healing vibes to Josie. All the best to the new parents.

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  20. Willow is such a cutie, grats on you new addition.

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  21. Congratulations, I like her middle name.

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  22. Just wanted to say congratulations on the birth of your little one is girl Willow Kristy she is absolutely beautiful just like her momma .and just wanted to say that I love her name it is so different but cute . Congratulations again Josie and Kelton may God bless you and your family and keep everyone safe always.

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  23. Time 11:04PM Fri 7/19/19
    Congrats to you guys both

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  24. Josie definitely does not look like she gave birth today. She looks flawless. I wonder if she had someone specifically to do her hair and makeup.
    That is the prettiest blanket they have her in.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it’s called hair products and makeup. Haha Plus she had the baby hours before this picture was taken. As you can tell it’s daylight in the picture but she delivered at 2:30am.

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  25. Congratulations to your daughter's arrival

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    1. Lol - I look at pictures now post-birth and see how I looked like a train wreck, but happy and didn’t care. Anyone else?

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    2. I know I definitely didn't look that good after the birth of my two children either. However, you're right, I was too happy to care:-) LOL

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    3. I did not have anyone to see me or pamper me when my baby was born. Husband working. No living close relatives. It was very lonely. So I'm very happy for Josie that she has sisters to fuss over her and all kinds of relatives to do nice things, including fix her hair and take a photo.

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    4. 9:23- Yours is a very gracious response!

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    5. 9:23 I am sorry :(
      and yes, your response is gracious and kind :)

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  26. concats Josie & Kelton

    P.S.
    another double birthday between the Duggars and bates
    1)Felicity Vuolo, daughter of Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo/ and Willow Kristy Balka
    2)Jennifer Danielle/Callie-Anna “Callie” Rose Bates
    3) Jedidiah Robert Duggar and Jeremiah Robert Duggar/ Zachary “Zach” Gilvin Bates
    their may be 4th double birthday connection I can't think of it right now

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    Replies
    1. Between 38 children and so far 23 grandchildren I would think there will be some double birthdays!

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    2. The 4th is Benjamin "Ben" Michael Seewald, husband of Jessa (Duggar) Seewald/Warden Justice Bates. Although, Ben isn't a Duggar but he's married to one.

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  27. Congratulations on your new addition. She's a cutie!

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  28. I figured she would have her own bday (within her family) and cute photo of the family, little baby!

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  29. Congrats to them. It looks like she delivered in a hospital. What level of education was Josie's attending professional? does anyone know?

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    1. In the US, minimum qualifications to attend birth in hospital are an MD or CNM (certified nurse midwife).

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    2. I'm an anesthesiologist who was on call that morning. The birth staff is excellent. They will share more later when/if they're ready. Thank you for your care and concern.

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    3. Why do you care? The baby is here safely, that’s all that matters.

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    4. ??? Excuse me??? Kelton’s mom died right after child birth, so I’m sure they were scared enough to make a sound choice for prenatal care and delivery!!! Besides it’s obvious she was in a hospital for delivery, so would’ve been a qualified doctor! And whoever you are to worry so, it’s the Duggars, not the Bates who have been trying so many home births!!!

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    5. Miriam, you obviously making that up, I doubt you would really risk loosing your job over a post on social media. Ellie any comments that in any way imply something that has to do medical information should not be posted.

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    6. 5:19, don’t bash homebirths because of a few of the Duggars poor choices in theirs. Homebirths can be amazing, as long as you have REAL midwives who know what they’re doing.

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    7. Anon @ 12:33 Miriam did not reveal anything about the delivery or the patient so her job should not be at risk. She simply said she's friends with the family, is an anesthesiologist, and that the staff was excellent. An anesthesiologist is a real doctor who administers anesthesia during surgeries, deliveries etc. so I'd say she is qualified to comment on the medical staff present. She did not reveal any private details about the birth.

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  30. Congratulations and God bless your new little one! Willow shares her birthday with my hubby.

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    1. Happy Birthday Eileen's hubby!!

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  31. Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our 17th yr. Anniversary. On the 19th of July.

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    1. Congrats! Here's to the next 17yrs, and the next and on to eternity :)

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  32. Josie is only 19 and already has a baby!

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    1. Lot better than being 15 or 16 like so many High School girls now a days. And she is married and employed and so is her husband. So what would your point be?

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    2. Yes! She's so blessed!
      Also a mature young lady.
      This was very common in our grandmother's time. You were considered an adult by 18.

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    3. Unknown- Actually, the birth rate among teens has been steadily dropping and are now at record lows.

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    4. not a nice comment if in high gets pregnant you can still have a life. lets not compare people.

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    5. Young and healthy and fairly carefree is the best time to have a baby. Older with health problems and feeling stressed that I need a baby right now is NOT the best time to have a baby.

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    6. @9:25 There is no perfect time to have a baby. It all depends on the individual and their circumstancs. As far as being "older", it sounds like you're describing someone ready for Social Security, which is a far cry from the mid to late twenties or even thirties. Just because you're 30 or 35 years old, does not mean you have one foot in the grave! BTW, once you start having kids, you can pretty much kiss your "carefree" days behind you. You never stop worrying about them. I'm a senior citizen and can testify to that! BTW, I had my kids in my thirties- and have no regrets. I had a great career and now am enjoying retirement with a good pension because of it.

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    7. 11:13, young teens who get pregnant typically have abortions, so while the birth rates for teens may be dropping, the pregnancy rates are not.

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    8. @ 12:29 Rates of adolescent pregnancy, birth and abortion in the United States continued to decline and reached historic lows in 2013, according to a new statistical report from the Guttmacher Institute. In 2013, about 448,000 women aged 15–19 became pregnant, for a national rate of 43 per 1,000 women in that age-group. This rate is about one-third of the peak adolescent pregnancy rate in 1990 and marks a 36% decline since 2008. In 2013, there were 26 births per 1,000 women aged 15–19 (down from 40 in 2008) and 11 abortions per 1,000 women in that age-group (down from 18 in 2008).

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    9. 12:29; You should check the facts of the matter. Pregnancy and abortion rates for teens have been declining for years and are at all time lows, thanks to education and access to birth control.

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  33. Love how the baby came on 07/19/19, real cool date!

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  34. Congratulations Josie and Kelton on the birth of your beautiful daughter Willow Kristy.
    Welcome to the world Willow Kristy.
    God Bless
    Marilyn,Joan and Marion

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  35. Congratulations, Josie and Kelton!!!

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  36. I think it is super cool that the 10th Bates child had the 10th Bates grandchild.

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    1. That was like the Duggars too: Jill is kid #4 and Israel is grandduggar #4

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  37. Congratulations.......
    Love to see picture of Kelly holding Willow..

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  38. Congrats Kelton & Josie!! Willow is so precious!

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  39. Welcome to the world Willow! Congratulations to Josie and Kelton on the new arrival and the entire Bates and Balka families.

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  40. It’s seems like Josie thinks her baby is a doll she can dress up to with matching outfits.

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    1. Alyssa does the same thing. As long as their children are well taken care of, it shouldn’t matter.

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    2. Willow is a sweetie doll isn't she?😊

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    3. Are you saying she's immature and the baby is just a toy to play with?the Bates kids were brought up to be responsible like many decades ago it was normal to have kids that age 'cos they were responsible,not all kids these days are spoilt and immature,and there's nothing wrong with her color co ordinating,she's just a proud momma to a girl she can have fun dressing up,fun and immaturity are different you know.

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    4. I think you are not realizing that baby dolls came into being so that children could pretend to be dressing up and caring for babies. The children playing with dolls are the ones imitating grown-ups, not vice versa.

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    5. 11:54, no matter who you were raised by maturity always comes with age.

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    6. 3:21 - very good point!! :))))

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  41. If you were planning on calling 6:49 mean, judgemental or any other insulting or derogatory terms, please take a slow breath and think of what our Master taught us.

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    1. Answer not a fool according to his folly? :)

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    2. Proverbs 26:4
      Thanks! People often get caught up giving folly for folly that they forget
      "Judge not"

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