Vacaville parents welcome Solano’s Baby New Year
Levalasi Loi-On and Andrew Va'i welcome their daughter, Ma'ave, at 1:11 a.m. on New Year's Day
Solano County’s first baby of 2021 is a little girl, Ma’ave.
Born at 1:11 a. m. at Kaiser Permanente Vacav ille Medical Center, Ma’ave weighed 6.5 pounds and measured 19 inches.
Her proud parents are Levalasi Loi- On and Andrew Va’i of Vacaville.
“(She’s) a new blessing, for sure,” her mom said via a phone interview Friday.
The couple moved to Vacaville from San Francisco in October and settled in with Va’i’s parents to wait for the arrival of their first child.
It’s been a tough nine months, but the parents are overjoyed that Ma’ave — who is named for Loi- On’s sister, who died when Loi- On was younger — is finally here.
“I had a really difficult pregnancy,” Loi- On said. “I had COVID in my first trimester, gestational diabetes in my second trimester and preeclampsia in my third.”
The couple arrived at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center at 10: 30 a. m. Wednesday and Loi- On was later induced as she showed signs of preeclampsia.
“I didn’t start pushing until 11 o’clock ( Thursday),” Loi- On said. “She was born at 1:11 at 1/1/21.”
Due to complications following the birth, baby Ma’ave mostly spent time with her dad. On Friday, mom and baby were
both doing fine.
“I think she looks like him,” Loi- On shared.
“She’s got my nose,” Va’i chimed in.
The family is expected to be released from the hospital on Saturday.
Both expect to enjoy ample quiet time w ith their daughter, as they’re both educators and work from home.
Loi- On works at San Francisco State University and teaches at City College of San Francisco while Va’i works at City College of San Francisco and teaches at Chabot College.
There will be much cel
ebrating, though safely, Va’i said.
“We’re super blessed to have a loving community. They’re just super excited for us,” he said. “I know ever ybody ’s excited for us.”
T hough an in- person shower wasn’t a possibility due to the pandemic, the couple’s community nonetheless rallied around
them during Lo i-O n’ s pregnancy and gave them an abundance of gifts.
The couple also thanked the Kaiser staff for their care.
“Our main experience at Kaiser has been amazing,” Loi- On said. “They’re taking good care of us.”