New Year, New Babies

The first baby of the year to be born at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a New Brunswick resident.

Christopher Amir Vazquez was born at 12:03 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz.

According to hospital spokesperson Zenaida Mendez, mom Maria Torres of New Brunswick was due to give birth on December 26, but started feeling contractions on Monday, Jan. 30. 

Dad Silvino Vazquez said the couple was preparing for a Christmas baby. 

"When the time came, we were like ‘We’re ready!’ but nothing,” Vazquez said. “Then a couple of days passed, and we thought maybe it will be a New Year’s baby." 

Medical staff told Torres that she still had a while to wait, and she was sent home. By 4 p.m. Tuesday, she returned to the hospital with stronger contractions and was admitted, according to Mendez. 

“I was waiting for him to be born, but he didn’t want to. I guess he was waiting for his special day,” Torres said. 

Christopher joins Torres, Vazquez and their four other children.