Hi! My name is Alexia Estes and I’ve been married to Jeffrey since February 27th, 2010 - almost FIVE years! My son Jack was born on October 11th, 2013.
Before Jack was born I taught adult ESL (English as a Second Language). I am currently teaching one small class with an organization called English @ Work. I’ve taught in many places and love working with the immigrant community. If this interests you, too, let’s get together!
My pregnancy was thankfully pretty uneventful. My doctor even used the word “textbook” at one of my last appointments. Jack came almost 3 weeks early when my water broke, and that’s when the chaos ensued! We had our challenges with low bilirubin levels, slow weight gain and exclusively pumping so we could measure how much he was getting at each feeding. Even after we packed away the pump and returned to nursing at 8 weeks, we still had weight gain issues and, for other various reasons, switched to formula at 6 months. Jack also has some mild hearing loss in his left ear (which is why you’ll see him wearing a headband - there’s a hearing aid attached), so that’s been a unique experience for us, as well. Despite these setback, I’m thankful to say that he is now a healthy, happy, 21lb 1 year old!
To say that this first year of parenthood was challenging is an understatement. From trying to learn how to teach my baby to sleep, eat, play, learn, and grow, to trying to keep my own sanity through lack of sleep and constantly questioning every little thing I’m doing for my baby, I know I couldn’t have done it without my mommy community. And at the same time, to say that this first year was amazing would also be an understatement. From seeing my baby’s first smile, hearing his first belly laugh, watching him discover new skills and start zooming across the room, to realizing that my baby is only a baby for such a brief moment, this year has been full of more joy than I could have ever imagined!
I sat at lunch back in November with Gretchen and a hand full of ladies that I had never met, or didn’t know very well. I was an insecure mother of a 6 week old boy, desperate for community with other moms. Over the course of almost the past year, God has truly done a work with the ladies in this group - answering questions, providing encouragement, an opportunity to just get out of the house - and above all, great friendships.
I am so thankful for the women I get to share parenthood with, I’m glad you have joined us!
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