Baby Shower Serves as Support for Reserve Family with Four Children
High school sweethearts Georgina and Jesús Felix de Los Reyes embraced the unknowns of becoming a military family when he enlisted in the Air Force in 2015.
“It was pretty exciting because he had always wanted to serve,” Georgina said. “He’s the first military serviceman in his family and in my family. We were stepping in unknown waters, but it was exciting because we thought of it as an adventure.”
Now, the two have been married 10 years and are the parents of four children under the age of 6. They have experienced the stress of three deployments and two military moves, and Jesús transitioned from active duty to the Air Force Reserve. They know to expect the unexpected, and they have learned to find a community among other military families.
They relocated to Utah in 2023. As they prepared for the birth of their fourth baby this year, Georgina and Jesús were excited when they learned about an Operation Homefront Star-Spangled Babies® shower at Hill Air Force Base, where he serves as a ground transportation specialist with the Reserve.
Georgina was one of about 75 participants at the shower. She had the opportunity to connect with other parents, and each family received baby essentials including a crib, travel crib, baby gym, blanket, humidifier, diapers, and other items. She said she especially appreciated resources about literacy support for young children.
In a season of high costs and high stress, the gifts she received at the event provided practical help and peace of mind. Georgina left with essential baby items, which was a relief because after three other children and a military move, the family no longer had everything they needed to care for an infant. She also took away a reassuring reminder that she was seen, valued, and supported.
Star-Spangled Babies® is designed to bridge the gap in support networks of military families who often live far from extended family.
While Jesús was away for two months for enlisted professional military education in Texas in the fall of 2025, Georgina was left raising three kids while working full-time and pregnant with their fourth child.
“I cried every day, but I had family nearby to help me out,” she said.
Since 2008, the program has provided essential baby supplies to more than 23,000 military families.
“The baby shower was incredible,” Georgina said. “The decorations and food were amazing. It was an overall great night for me.”
As a military spouse, Georgina understands the sacrifices families make in support of service.
She and Jesús made their first military move soon after basic training when he got orders to his first duty station. They left behind family in their native Utah and moved to Arizona.
Relocating meant Georgina had to abandon her dreams of being in a dance team and a dietetics program in Provo, Utah. It was an adjustment, but the excitement of the life they were beginning trumped sadness, she said.
Jesús deployed to Qatar four months after he and Georgina got married.
“There is always back and forth, which is extremely common with military families,” she said. “It’s tough. Everything comes with its pros and cons, but joining the military is something that we never regret, even when it comes with its challenges.”
“The baby shower was incredible. …It was an overall great night for me.” – Georgina Felix, Air Force Reserve spouse
After five years of active duty, Jesús transitioned to the Air Force Reserve so Georgina could work full time, and he could continue his service and earn a paycheck while completing his undergraduate degree and working toward a doctorate in economics. Since becoming part of the Reserve, he has deployed twice to Kuwait.
Because their closest family was 12 hours away, Georgina decided to move back to Salt Lake City during the first deployment to Qatar and the second one to Kuwait. During this time Georgina was able to take food-service jobs to advance her career in dietetics.
She appreciates Operation Homefront and its donors for recognizing the sacrifices inherent to military family life.
“I know that there are a lot of causes (partners) could have donated to,” she said. “I think military families (are) always a good cause to donate to, because we do sacrifice a lot. Being separated from families is so hard, but having these things, these perks here and there … makes us feel better.”
