By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Welcome, Rocio.
And Happy New Year, by the way.
Rocio Heredia Aguilar was the first baby born at Rowan Regional Medical Center in 2009, arriving at 3:19 a.m. Thursday.
She weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and is the fourth child of 30-year-old Maria Aguilar Heredia. The father is Daniel Heredia Rod-riguez.
Rocio translates to “dew” or “sprinkling” in Spanish.
Through hospital interpreter Maria Redard, the mother said she was taken by surprise at all the fuss about Rocio’s being the year’s first newborn in Rowan County.
“This is new for me,” said Heredia, who is of Mexican descent and has lived in the United States for seven years.
Though she is busy enough as a mother of four, Heredia said her own new year’s resolution is to look for a job. As for her immediate aspirations for Rocio, Heredia said she only hopes the child will be good behaving.
So far, so good. Rocio has been good-natured since her birth, which also had no complications.
Rocio was a bit late. She was due Dec. 29.
As has become its custom, Smart Start Rowan welcomed 2009’s first baby with a 42-inch-tall gift basket filled with infant toys and baby hygiene products, blankets, gift certificates, formula, items for the mother and a plaque acknowledging Rocio as “The First Rowan County Baby of 2009.”
Smart Start Rowan board member Cathy Eller and Executive Director John Gerstenmier presented the basket to Heredia in the hospital.
The mother and baby plan to leave Rowan Regional for their Salisbury home today. Rocio’s siblings include 16-year-old Angelica, 4-year-old Daniel and 1-year-old Isela.