Audrey Caro
One of Sweet Home’s newest residents, Jeremiah L. Miles-Russell, already has his own fan base.
When he accompanies his mother, Alissa Miles-Russell, to have lunch with his brothers at Sweet Home Charter School, eager admirers are plentiful.
“It’s like being a celebrity,” Miles-Russell said with a laugh. “Everyone wants to see you.”
Jeremiah L. Miles-Russell was born at 9:19 p.m. on Jan. 9 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
At 19 inches long and tipping the scales at 7 pounds, 9 ounces, he was Sweet Home’s first baby of 2017.
Miles-Russell is on maternity leave from her job as a first-grade teacher at Sweet Home Charter School. Eli, 9½, and Ayden, 8½, attend school there. He also has two sisters, Brooklynn, 8, and Olivia, 5.
“I’ve gotten very lucky,” Miles-Russell said. “(They’ve all been) good sleepers, hardly ever cry.”
Russell and her husband Scott Miles had gotten rid of most of their baby gear, but between all the baby showers and grandparents, they’ve got Jeremiah covered.
“We kind of had to start from scratch again,” Miles-Russell said. “I had a family baby shower, a work baby shower and church is getting ready to have another baby shower.”
Jeremiah’s siblings also want to contribute.
“They’re really excited and always want to hold him so it’s great,” Miles-Russell said. “They said if daddy and I want to go out to dinner they’ll watch him.”
The kids are too young for that, of course, but Miles-Russell said she and her husband appreciate the offer.
“God blessed this family by bringing Scott and I together, and He blessed us again by adding Jeremiah to it,” Miles-Russell said. “He’s named after Jer. 29:1 (in the Bible): ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”