Awkward

Awkwardness all depends on the situation. Take for example this car seat my sister gave me:

this would be tacky, but thank heavens for a sweet seamstress mother who refinished the car seat to look like this:
Much cuter and fun to make (well. . .fun for me since I just sat in amazement and giggled with her as the hours drew longer and later)


Awkward could be the feeling Joaquin is feeling with a loving sister trying to "hold" him, but he recognizes and feels the love so it was fine.


Real awkwardness is sitting down, waiting for church to start and being reintroduced to the medical student who was in the delivery room when Joaquin was born a little less than 2 weeks ago! I say in the room, but really he was an active participant in the whole process. Enough said---Awkward!

Happy Fourth!

Our family has tried to instill the importance of national holidays. Today, after our patriotic waffles (cause it is totally respectful to eat our flag inspired waffles), we posted the colors and recited the pledge. Tiago and Mia did awesome with the words. Then we sang the National Anthem. I am sure our neighbors were wondering about us and our singing of the National Anthem this morning. Mainly because it was way off key and too high for my voice and well the kids only knew some of the words. Still, it was a moment to think about the sacrafices so many people have made to make this country a living possibility.

And how about a little game of war to round things out a bit! Fernando had the kids so into the game that they played for over an hour. And yes, Tiago is dressed in a Storm Trooper Costume.

Joaquin Alonso

As if he knew that it was the most convenient time, our newest Tovar decided to make his enterance early Tuesday morning at 3:18 am. Weighing the smallest of the group at 8 lbs 6 oz., Joaquin (pronounced wah KEEN) Alonso has already proved to live up to his names' meaning: God will establish--noble and ready.

I had been having random but slightly uncomfortable contractions all day on Monday which made me only bitter I confess because I felt like the contractions were taunting me (ok not really but slightly sure that they weren't leading me anywhere). I kept myself busy all day to keep my mind off of things. That night I was a little concerned about how uncomfortable they were getting and yet how irregular they still were. Fernando convinced me that it was better to be safe than sorry. By the time we got to the hospital they were closer, but still irregular. I could barely walk or talk through them. The nurses in triage weren't convinced and talked to me about how I would need to be sent home if I wasn't dilated.

I expressed concern about my last delivery (Talia was a torpedo) so they were willing to check my progress. Sure enough I was a five and almost fully effaced. Luckily, one of the doctors took a little more precaution and wanted me set up in the room as soon as possible. Still unable to read my contractions on the fancy contraction machine, they waltzed around for the next 30 minutes. FInally the anesthesiologist came in to help ease my pain. Unfortunately, he was a little nervous as he is friends with Fernando and Fernando did a bit of talking up before he began the process. It took a painful amount of times and pokes before it was set, but it was the best epidural I have ever had. The doctor came in with the idea of ample time until she checked me again and I was at a 10 and ready to deliver.

3 contractions later, out popped our boy. He is beautiful and has a sweet disposition. He slept for most of the first day which was more than I did, but that is always the part of the parent. All of us adore him and are doing better at referring to him by his now given name as opposed to the name we called him in utero. (Vakulinchuk) Special thanks to our friend and very willing neighbor Wendy who came over to "sleep" at our house while I delivered him and to all the other friends who offered to do what they could to help.

Missing it already

The funny thing about leaving Corpus isn't so much that it is a must see destination, but that we had so much carefree fun to enjoy everyday. The kids keep asking when we will go back and truthfully we will be going again when Fernando has his next away rotation there and has a similar set up.

Missing bike rides on the beach just minutes from our hotel:


Missing the abundance of ant free sand to shovel, scoop, and create with:


Missing the Aquarium's children's room full of fun and imagination:






Not really needing explanation, but definitely missed:




Surprisingly missing the small hotel room that made for creative ways to spend time together:




Missing being outside and loving it:

Moments that Matter Most

Now that our time in Corpus is coming to a close (a week after I intended), I think I will miss the carefreeness that we have come to enjoy. We spend most days doing the morning regiment: Make beds (yes, I know housekeeping gets paid to do that, but who wants to deal with that lack of luxury at home), get dressed, read scriptures, say prayers. Then we get to Corpus life: walk downstairs or take the alligator (Talia's pronunciation of elevator) to enjoy Texas shaped waffles, eggs, bacon, muffins, juice, fruit etc, head out for a bike down the beach, may be even get in the water, naps, aquarium, swimming with daddy in the hotel pool. Life is beautiful.

Corpus Aquarium

The Aquarium in Corpus Christi reminds me of a mini Sea World except you have the treat of picking up hermit crabs (Mia's favorite and Talia's fear*) and petting sting rays (everyone's favorite but some how Talia gets more frustrated than fulfilled since she can rarely reach them). In any case, we are only a ten minute drive away which includes a drive over the coolest bridge in the world at least by my kids' standards and we have a year pass now so we see it often. . .everyday almost.
Here is the reason Talia is scared of the hermit crabs. After watching her siblings pick up several shells and seeing the tarantula looking crabs crawl out, she was reticent to try picking up one herself. I, being a great mom, convince her that it just comes out to "tickle" you which is the line the aquarium people were feeding all the curious kids and adults. I had not attempted to touch them myself since they looked disgusting, but I get freaked out by little tiny spiders. I finally convinced Talia to hold one. As I am taking the picture, she starts crying, not in fear, but in pain. Turns out said tickles can actually feel more like pinching and biting and their little leg barbs grasp their victims with all the intensity one upside-down crab can muster. Awesome. Way to build that relationship of trust.
Luckily there were dolphins and turtles and all sorts of other animals to distract our sorrows. (including giant cartoon like turtles. . .Talia loves these dress up characters. Every time we go to Sea World, we have to find Shamu to hug and any other poor employee stuck in these ridiculously hot suits).




It is hard to see in the picture, but the kids are standing in a circle shooting each other with water guns. Life really can't get better than this.

Grimaldi's

Supposedly this restaurant is what made the Brooklyn Bridge famous. Whether or not that is true, we enjoyed some seriously delicious pizza and calzone. Whoever thought up pesto sauce for the pizza was genius especially when it is complimented with sausage and chicken and fresh mozzarella. The kids got a chance to play with the pizza dough while we waited which proved to be better then the crazy stories I tried to tell to keep them entertained while waiting for our food. Check out Tiago's face. . .I am pretty sure he was flat out confounded by my stories.




The lemons were the only thing that dampened the whole situation.