Willow Kristy Balka (born July 19, 2019) is the first child and first daughter of Kelton Balka and Josie Balka.
She is the sister of Hazel Balka and Miles Balka.
Early life
Willow as a baby
On February 13, 2019, Kelton and Josie Balka announced that they were expecting their first child, due July 2019. In a statement to InTouch Magazine, Josie said:
"We can hardly believe it. We are already so in love with our little one and so very thankful to God for his blessing on our life as we start our little family."
On February 17, 2019, Josie's brother Lawson posted a video on his Instagram story from a gender reveal party for Josie and Kelton. The video did not include the reveal itself.
On March 7, 2019, Josie posted a photo of her baby bump with a caption that said she was 20 weeks along. This placed the due date around July 25, 2019.
On March 28, 2019, Kelton and Josie announced on the website Hollywood Life that the baby was a girl to be named Willow Kristy Balka. Her middle name is a tribute to her late paternal grandmother, Kristy Balka.
Willow Kristy Balka was born at 2:23 a.m. on July 19, 2019, in a Knoxville, Tennessee hospital. She weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces, and was 19 inches long. In a joint statement, her parents said:
"Our hearts are so full after welcoming Willow Kristy early this morning. We are so thankful to God for our little blessing and can’t wait to start our journey as a family of three."
Career
Education
Along with her sister, Willow will most likely be homeschooled growing up.
Television
Willow was frequently featured on the UpTV show Bringing Up Bates. Her parents opted not to film her birth, as Kelton lost his mother while she was giving birth. Pictures of her birth were featured on the Bringing Up Bates episode "A First Time For Everything".
Wedding involvement
Willow was a flower girl at her aunt Katie's wedding to Travis Clark on December 3, 2021.
She was a flower girl at her uncle Trace's wedding to Lydia Romeike on October 1, 2022.
