This is a picture of my daughter Veronica. Teething.
As a baby she would crawl underneath our kitchen table, latch on to the wrought iron chair legs, and begin gumming the metal. I would drag her out by the legs and move her to the other room. She kept coming back.
No matter what I did, she would army crawl back and we would repeat the process. Again. And again. And again. I finally gave up and just took a picture. But this process lasted for weeks.
We call her Rocky, a nickname she gave herself. As a toddler, she would sit in a little rocking chair, and rock back and forth saying, “Rocky, baby! Rocky, baby!”. The name stuck. But looking at this picture, I think the nomenclature goes back a bit further. Not quite the Italian Stallion, but that teething picture looks like something out of a Rocky training montage. Queue the theme song.
Today is Rocky’s 13th birthday. She was born at a whopping 10 pounds. No ounces. Just a perfect 10.
If I had to travel to a foreign country where I didn’t know the language, I would take Rocky with me in a heartbeat. She is full of adventure and curiosity. She has the voice of an angel (though I hope we pass through this Phantom of the Opera phase soon). When not reading voraciously, she performs countless acts of service around our home.
Happy Birthday, Rocky baby!
The Refillable Glass 
Good Luck on hearing the end of Phantom of the Opera. We could not stop our girls from singing Phantom of the Opera in public spaces in the house for more than 4 years!
LikeLike
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VERONICA “ROCKY”!
You are one of my favorite people! And I just realized another reason why — you and my John “The Favorite” (according to Jesus 🙂 share the same birthday (19 for him)! What a beautiful connection especially during the Octave of Easter.
May Veronica and John be Blessed today and always!
LikeLike
Was this picture of her as a baby sanctioned by Rocky? If not you better look out she’s got a nasty right hook.
LikeLike
I remember meeting her when you came out to watch Austin play in Chicago ❤️
Here are two pictures and she is chewing your hand. Happy birthday, Veronica.
Mary Watson
https://photos.app.goo.gl/k4wCUdp2v29Q75ao9
LikeLike
Happy Birthday!
LikeLike
Yes, a perfect 10! Never a dull moment with Rocky in the car, gym, kitchen…
LikeLike
ROCKY- Forgive me, it was your GOLDEN BIRTHDAY! And you are TRULY GOLDEN!! ❤
LikeLike
Happy Belated Birthday, Veronica!
LikeLike
Mom, are you going to do a post about me on April 30??????
(you better)
LikeLike
[…] take a couple of the kids for us. Michael and I will drive the girls to her home later this week. Rocky and Miffy will have a ball at Camp Miriam soaking up the love and attention from her three precious […]
LikeLike
[…] Rocky and Miffy spent a week with their cousins. My dear sister-in-law Miriam invited them to her home in the midst of all the heavy news around here. If the pictures are any indication, they had an absolute ball at Camp Miriam. […]
LikeLike
[…] closing, a song keeps coming to mind. Veronica, my singer, is now on a Les Misérables kick. I’ve been hearing this music for weeks. As I […]
LikeLike
[…] it was snowing, so they are enjoying the good weather. Johnny went as a ninja, Miffy as a dad, and Rocky as Cruella de […]
LikeLike
[…] began remote learning this week after the Thanksgiving break. Since August, our grade school kids (Rocky, Miffy and Johnny) have attended classes in person. I am so grateful for this time. Although there […]
LikeLike
[…] After the move, Sam drove home. Veronica’s Confirmation was the next morning. As I held Becky on Friday night, my thoughts turned to the other kids. I took a moment to inventory my people: Sam was driving home from South Bend. Greta, Angela, and Michael were tucked into their dorm rooms. Mary Frances and Rudy were staying with friends. Mom Rauch was driving Johnny back from Camp Sanity. Becky and I were in the hospital. That left Josephine and Veronica. […]
LikeLike
[…] and his friends. The rest he could do without. He begins 2nd grade this year with Ms. B. Miffy and Rocky both had Ms. B and I couldn’t be happier that she will also teach Johnny. She has a warm […]
LikeLike
[…] daughter Veronica, affectionately known to us as Rocky, joined her high school swimming team this year, as a sophomore who’s never completed a lap […]
LikeLike