It is already a banner year for Squamish's Sodetou Ayanajemi.
She moved to Squamish in 2023 from Cameroon and gave birth to her first baby, a boy, on New Year's Day at Squamish General Hospital.
To top it off, son Ayan is the first baby of 2024 to be born in the entire Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region.
VCH's jurisdiction encompasses Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, the Sea to Sky Corridor, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
Ayan came into the world at 2:19 p.m. on Jan. 1, weighing 7 lbs, 8 oz, or 3,425 grams.
He was due on Jan. 4, Ayanajemi said from her Squamish hospital bed on Jan. 2.
Her labour was relatively easy, she said, because she had suffered such back pain throughout her pregnancy that the birth was a relief.
"Compared to that, it was really manageable," she said, adding that "everyone is great" to her at the hospital.
She was surprised when she found out she had delivered the first baby of the year.
"It's exciting, right?"
She had moved to Squamish for a fresh start and to try something new, she said.
So far, life here has certainly given her that.
She looks forward to going home with her little boy on Jan. 3, she said.
The provincial government announced that B.C.'s first baby of the year was born at 12 a.m. at the Royal Columbian Hospital, weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz.
According to The Province, the baby girl is named Taylor Stutsky.
Please note that this story was updated as we learned more.
