Clark County’s first baby of 2021 gets an early start

Willie Yuan and Nicole Su already know the stories to tell their son, Kenzie Lucas Yuan, born 4:32 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

The newborn is Clark County’s first baby born in 2021 at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center on Friday morning, 10 days early of his due date. The Vancouver couple welcomed their child — 6 pounds, 8 ounces and 20 inches long — just hours after a challenging and historic 2020 came to a close.

For Yuan and Su, they look at a pandemic-riddled 2020 with a glass-half-full approach. Spending more time with his family was a blessing for the 41-year-old father. Kenzie is the couple’s third child, joining an 8-year-old girl and boy who turns 6 next week.

“It’s good for the family because it’s more time with the kids,” Yuan said. “We spent a lot of time together.”

Their third child was a surprise pregnancy who became a blessing to begin a new year, Yuan said. The baby’s due date was Jan. 11, but as Yuan arrived home from New Year’s Eve celebrations at ilani, where he’s a table supervisor, his wife began having contractions.

Their son arrived quickly. Less than two hours later, they became a family of five.

“It’s the third (child),” Yuan said. “We’ve had some practice, right?”

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center welcomed its first baby of 2021, a girl, at 5:11 a.m. Friday, a Legacy spokesperson said.