So I realize not everyone knows about Jeremiah! Boy, am I behind!
Jeremiah is an 9 month old little boy who has been living with us for a couple months now.
We decided almost a year ago to be a volunteer family for an organization called Safe Families. Parents that find themselves in crisis can choose to place their children with a host family. The time frame can range from a few days to a few months. Parents have total control over how long the stay is. Some common situations parents are in that require them to use Safe Families are homelessness, hospital stays, serving time in jail for minor infractions, stuff like that. Obviously, these parents don't feel like they have other safe alternatives for their kids.
We have had 3 kids stay with us. Dwayne (2 1/2), Amarie (2) and Jeremiah (7months). Dwayne was with us for a week while we gave his host family respite as they went on vacation. We had anticipated keeping him again for longer but didn't end up doing so. Amarie was placed with us for 6-8 months but then ended up going home a few hours after she got to our house. :-)
Jeremiah has been with us since September 19th.
He is a happy, lively, sweet little boy with an incredibly runny nose!! Okay, you laugh but I am not joking! I have never seen anything like it! Poor guy!
When he first got to our house he was not very moble and now he is climbing stairs and speed crawling to keep up with the girls. He has gotten two teeth and is starting to learn sign language. It is a fun stage/age to have a baby. He changes so much every day and generally sleeps well at night and is happy.
We try to see his mom every week but it doesn't always work out. She has been to church with us a couple times and I have tried to get to know her as best I can given the situation. I am very hopeful that we can continue to grow our relationship with her after Jeremiah goes back to be with her.
Both our immediate families have had a chance to meet and be around Jeremiah, (except the Averys). I think they will all vouch for what a great little baby he is and how unbelievable his nose is. Haha!
Rylie loves J and will have a hard time when he leaves. She enjoys being his mama, much to Adam and I's dismay! At times she treats him more like a puppy and we are constantly having to ask her to give him space. However, she can also be so so sweet and tender to him. She will do whatever she can to cheer him up when he is sad: dancing goofy, making silly faces and noses or getting him new toys. He loves to cuddle up to him while he drinks his bottle and stroke his face. My favorite though is that they always hold hands when we are in the car.
Harper has taken a bit longer to warm up to him. At first I think he was a bit of a threat and she would get a little clingy whenever I was changing his diaper or giving him a bottle. He seems to be growing on her though and now she will greet him happily, "Miah!", when he wakes up from nap and she is more quick to share her toys or food.
We have all affectionately given him the nickname Bubs because of the impressive bubbles he blows out of his nose and "tissue" has become a household expletive. :-)
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