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Inside the baby nursery with Congressman Castro and wife, Anna

U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro is not facing a primary opponent so he had time to loosen his tie and along with his wife Anna, bring KENS 5 inside their home for their first sit down interview as a family with their newborn daughter Andrea Elena.
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SAN ANTONIO -- U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro is not facing a primary opponent so he had time to loosen his tie and along with his wife Anna, bring KENS 5 inside their home for their first sit down interview as a family with their newborn daughter Andrea Elena.

Castro is widely considered a political rising star but right now his focus is very much down to earth.

I've probably changed 300 diapers by now, the Congressman laughed.

He describes himself a very much hands-on dad to ten-week-old Andrea Elena. Family tells the couple the happy baby has her father's eyes and her mothers face.

She weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces at birth. Right now she's in the 99th percentile for height. Doctors say she's going to be tall, said mom Anna Flores.

The baby's pink and purple princess-themed nursery is filled with gifts from family.

My mom knitted those shoes for her before she was born. Unfortunately, she passed away a month before Andrea was born but we will help her know about her grandmother, said Anna.

The nursery also contains some impressive letters of congratulations.

Presidents Obama and Clinton sent her a little letter when she was born so I'm going to keep them and frame them for her, said Castro.

Like all first time parents, the Castros are adjusting with some additional challenges.

It's been hard being away from my wife and daughter and all the travel back and forth between Washington and Texas, said Castro.

The Castros did consider a move to Washington D.C.

We thought about it, but all of our support is here. San Antonio is home. My family is here. Anna's sister is here, Castro said. I feel bad because when I'm in Washington I get a full night's sleep and I feel bad for Anna. So when I'm home, I'm the one who wakes up.

It does really help when he's here although I still wake up, said Flores with a smile.

While they are sleepless in San Antonio, they are discovering the joys of parenthood.

Your focus becomes so intense on your family. I was a little surprised how quickly things changed, said Castro.

One big change came in November when the Castros wed.

It was a legal ceremony with just our families, so it was really private and we're planning a Catholic religious ceremony this summer, said Flores, who is keeping her maiden name.

We'll have that in July and it will be a larger ceremony with our friends and family members, said Castro.

They will be joined by family here in San Antonio and in Mission, Texas.

I was born in Reynosa in Mexico and I grew up in Mission along the border, said Flores.

After graduating from UT-Pan American, Flores moved to San Antonio where she immediately ran into Joaquin Castro.

I literally almost bumped into him. My office was upstairs and I am going down the stairs and he was going up. We almost crashed! she said.

After a friendship, the two began to date and married five years later.

I kind of just see him as Joaquin, the person I fell in love with, not as Joaquin the Congressman. It's weird when I think I'm a political wife, said Flores.

I've gotten her more involved in politics. Her life was as devoid of politics as mine was full of politics when we met. It's a good mix. I make her watch all the political shows every night, she can't get away from it, Castro laughed.

Flores has just returned to work from maternity leave.

I work at a company called Newtek. It's a technology company here in San Antonio. It's been a great opportunity to travel the world and speak about our great technology, said Flores.

Her husband is on the move, too after taking his place in the national spotlight at the Democratic National Convention and being elected to Congress. But nothing compares to the new role he's taking on at the age of 39.

Right after she was born I posted a picture on Facebook and for all the political stuff we've done, that picture got more views and likes than any single thing I've done in politics, said Castro.

The post with a photo of Castro, his wife and baby in the hospital has gone viral with nearly 17,000 likes and more than 1000 comments.

Post by Congressman Joaquin Castro.

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