Del Rio Welcomes First Baby of the Year

Hello, 2026! On the second day of the new year at 12:41PM, a baby girl named Valentina was delivered at Val Verde Regional Medical Center. She weighed in at a healthy 7.0lbs.

While Crystal Zapata, mother, recovers from labor, Nicholas Gutierrez, father tells DRN, “She’s my first child. Everything went well, and Crystal’s doing great. I’m happy. We started the year off with a bang.”

Nicholas says the name Valentina comes from a song called “Valentina’s Lullaby” the couple discovered on TikTok. Originating in Spain, the song is a soothing, loving lullaby written for a baby named Valentina.

“Valentina te quiero hasta el fin”, writes the songwriter.

VVRMC staff presented a basket of gifts to the glowing — and growing — family to not only congratulate them on their delivery, but to welcome Del Rio’s first baby of 2026.