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After cleverly avoiding 2020, Dawson Reyes became Sentara Obici Hospital’s first baby in 2021.

Proud parents Alex and Holly Reyes welcomed baby Dawson at 8:11 a.m., weighing 7 pounds and 8 ounces, and measuring 21 inches long.

With COVID-19 causing many restrictions at the hospital, Alex Reyes felt fortunate to be able to be with his wife Holly during the Cesarean section and recovery process.

“Thankfully, the hospital allowed one visitor, so I was able to be there for the whole procedure,” said Reyes. “I was there through the whole C-section and the recovery time. We also were able to keep the baby in the room with us the whole time except when they checked his vitals.”

With only one visitor allowed, big sister Zoey Reyes, who is 2 1/2 years old, had to wait at home. According to her dad, she could not wait for her baby brother to come home from the hospital.

“Big sister was overjoyed to meet him,” said Alex Reyes. “She asked us the whole time while we were at the hospital when we were coming home so she could meet him.”

Dawson is not the only New Year’s baby in the Reyes family. He was not due until Jan. 7 but had a scheduled C-section on Jan. 6. However, he knew he had to make an early entrance to keep up with his dad.

“It’s definitely exciting, since I was a New Year’s baby myself,” said Alex Reyes. “I was born at 5 p.m., so I wasn’t the first at my hospital. It’s funny having my son one-up me.”

Now, mom and baby are home and doing well. Dawson has been eating well and, at his check-up, had gained all his birth weight back.

“We are just very blessed to have a healthy baby boy in the new year,” said Reyes.