Mom welcomes twins in 2 different years
Earlimart resident Maria Esperanza Flores Rio is now a mother of five.
— -- A set of twins in Southern California were born in two different years.
Although they were born just 18 minutes apart, Joaquin Ontiveros was born a year earlier than his sister, Aitana de Jesus, at the Delano Regional Medical Center in California's Kern County, their mother, Earlimart resident Maria Esperanza Flores Rios told ABC News today.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/twins-born-different-year-boy-ht-1-thg-180102_8x9_992.jpg)
The baby boy was born at 11:58 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2017, and weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces and was 18 inches long, ABC station KABC reported. His younger sister was born at 12:16 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2018, at 4 pounds, 10 ounces and 16 inches long.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/twins-born-different-year-girl-ht-1-thg-180102_8x9_992.jpg)
Rios gave birth to the twins via C-section nearly 4 weeks early, she said. Her original due date was scheduled for Jan. 27.
The hospital wrote on Facebook that it was "honored to play a significant role in this 2018 New Year delivery of baby twins" and thanked the "dedicated" hospital staff.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/twins-born-different-year-ht-3-thg-180102_4x3_992.jpg)
Rios' sister, 25-year-old Aurelia Perez Rios, told ABC News that she is happy for her sister and brother-in-law.
"I'm excited and thrilled to be an aunt once again," Aurelia Perez Rios said.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/twins-born-different-year-ht-2-thg-180102.jpg)
Rios is now a mother of five.