A Metrotown couple welcomed their first child into the world just in time to become Burnaby's New Year's baby.
Rocco de Guzman was born at 12:32 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Burnaby Hospital, weighing six pounds and nearly eight ounces.
When his parents – mom Dominique Mosqueda and dad Vincent de Guzman – arrived at the hospital on New Year’s Eve, doctors told them the baby likely wouldn't be born until noon the next day.
But Rocco, who was already five days overdue, had other plans.
By about 10 p.m., staff were preppinig the delivery room, and he was born an hour-and-a-half later.
"At the end of the day, it's the baby's decision," Mosqueda told the Burnaby NOW.
She said the doctors have described her new baby boy as "feisty," and she agrees.
When asked why the couple named him Rocco, Mosqueda said "because it sounds great."
As for the new parents' wishes for their son's future, de Guzman didn’t have to think long.
"We just want him to be the best version of himself that he can be," he said.
New Westminster's New Year's baby
Twenty-five minutes before Rocco was born, another Burnaby couple delivered New Westminster’s New Year’s baby.
Brentwood residents Jamie Carballo and Jeremy Borys welcomed their first child into the world at 12:07 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Royal Columbian Hospital.
Their new baby boy, who has yet to be named, weighed in at seven pounds and one ounce, and is doing "really really well" after a "very long" labour, according to Carballo.
She said she arrived at RCH at about 11 a.m. on New Year's Eve "super excited" but ended up labouring for another 12 hours plus before baby Borys finally arrived seven minutes after midnight.
Delivering a New Year's baby wasn't top of mind given the circumstances, but Carballo said she is a "very prompt" person and it's funny her baby boy was the first to arrive in New Westminster and in all of Fraser Health.
B.C.'s first baby was born to Kamloops couple Jordan (Forrest-Drezet) Hill and Elijah Hill at 12:02 a.m. at Royal Inland Hospital.
A Vancouver Island couple, Stephani Atomako and Benedict Kika, welcomed their baby boy at 12:07 a.m. – tying Carballo and Bory's for second place.
Carballo said she and her son are recovering nicely thanks to RCH staff.
"They've been absolutely wonderful for resources," she said.
And what are Carballo and Borys’s hopes and dreams for their new son?
"I think as long as he's happy and healthy, that's all I can really ask for," said Carballo.
"I hope that he becomes an excellent golfer," added Borys.
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