Luke Robert Becker--Bath and Boys

Luke Robert Becker was born Friday, May 27th, 2011 at 11:23 a.m. at home in the Philippines. We praise God for a safe delivery and good recovery for both Luke and Jessica!

Scroll down to the previous post to see pictures from labor and delivery. Then read this one to see what happened just one hour after he was born. Thank you, Lord!

Here is Luke's proud Papa! I love Nate's smile in this one as he finally gets to hold our third son, that is, without gloves on =)

Strong hands of a loving Father, ready to give his new son a bath.

Luke's first bath! Nate is getting so good at caring for little ones!

Elijah came home excited to meet Luke for the first time! What love and joy in this little 3 year old brother!

Family of 5! It was kind of wild with the boys wanting to jump all over, so this is one of our only pictures with all 5 of us! You can see the family excitement and also my concern that I don't get smashed nor does Luke!

I love Elijah's face in this one. Look at these boys!

Malachi gets to hold Luke for the first time.

"It's a boy!" He looks so handsome in this one...eyes open and so wonderfully made!

Malachi is so curious about this little guy...mittens, hat, and so little!

I couldn't decide which picture I liked better, so here is another one

Doesn't Grandma look so beautiful with her joyful love as she holds her little grandson! What a doll! I can't believe he is a whole person! Cozy little buddy.

He loves to sleep. I hope that lasts. Look at his long fingers. Dad and Daniel, do you like the baseball outfit?

This is the morning of day 1. He is just about 24 hours old. I love Elijah's blue eyes and the fact that Luke's eyes are open too. Brothers!!

Joy came back today to check up on us. Elijah helps her clean the cord. This guy loves to help get diapers and to be a part of it all. That is special to me too.

Aunt Rachel came to visit. She is due in July with her 3rd also--a little buddy for Luke!

Finally I am able to spend more time with Luke. Mama loves you little guy! I feel like his first day was so full and I hardly got to even look at him. Now we need bonding time!

There he is...one day old. Maybe he uses his pinkie finger to count. What a handsome and healthy little guy. Thank you, Lord, for this blessing of life!

Luke Robert Becker---Labor and Delivery

Labor began at 1:22 a.m. on the morning of May 27th. Here I am between contractions.

During a contraction...they do get worse and worse!! "This is just the beginning of labor pains."

Now we are getting more intense. Here is Nate, my loving husband, beside me the whole time. Thanks, Babe

Here is Jenna keeping stats. Thanks for losing so much sleep for me!

Here is my midwife, Joy, so patient and caring. Look at her expression...beautiful!

How can I describe this picture! Look at Nate's care and concern, and my pain and weakness. Oh, Lord, this is a strange way to get babies into the world, but yet so miraculous and beautiful at the same time!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!! 11:23 a.m. Luke Robert Becker was born. Look at the huge muscles of his strong and loving Papa, and the hands that caught him!! Look at Nate's expression!!! This is priceless. My bum is carefully cropped out of this picture, so you can see how absolutely new this little guy is!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow....and I mean, flow!!!

The little guy opened his eyes and posed for a picture. I'm so glad for these pictures (and tons of other ones I will not post!) because I had no idea what was going on back there. Now I can see it all without the pain (though the memory is still fresh!).

My precious mother was there all the time, praying for me, encouraging me and wiping my forehead with a cool cloth. Thanks for the pictures also, Mums!! I'm so glad you were here!! You can see that I can't even look at my baby. I'm so exhausted!

While Nate cleaned up, Grandma got to hold Luke for the first time! Welcome little guy!!

Praise God Luke started nursing well. What a tiny guy compared to our other 2! Wow, what a doll...a minature person! Finally I got to look at my son and enjoy him in rest.

There is the love...my true love! Oh, my heart is full of thanksgiving for Nate and for the joy of sharing babies with him!!

And here is the "after" picture" and the food that I still have not eaten. Whew! It is over!

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5.10

30 Hours in 30 Pictures

Here's 30 of the 128 pictures I took in the 30 hours since my mom arrived!
Here is Malachi ready to meet Grandma in the special outfit she bought him. His expression does not tell me that he feels sick, but now looking back I can see it...

Now look at Malachi's expression and my pants. What do you think happened just 2 minutes before we got out of the taxi at the airport to meet Grandma? The little guy barfed all over me and the back seat of the taxi. Thankfully my camera was okay, and thankfully I brought Emi with me to help! Poor little guy didn't feel well.

She's here!!! What a wonderful gift from God to see her in person! Elijah was so excited watching for her plane (we saw the tail and heard it land). Malachi and I stuck together since we were not too clean (I had envisioned different welcome pictures with their little outfits!).

The baby waited for Grandma! I love my mom! Yay!!

In the taxi---notice the blue sarong wrapped around my mess (and Malachi still doesn't feel too well). Elijah was thrilled to tell Grandma everything and pointed out busses and cement mixers out the window.

Emi was so surprised and thrilled to get her new pair of shoes!!

The boys had fun searching Grandma's suitcase to find presents. It was Christmas in May: "What ELSE is in Grandma's suitcase?" It was very exciting!

Does Amor look happy or what?! She loves her camera--surprise!

This is for Aunt Sarah! He LOVES the helicopter, "Just like Jonas has."

The next several are posted especially for Sarah...you know why!

The STROLLER!!! I LOVE IT! Elijah had fun helping us put it together.

Malachi really warmed up to Grandma fast. She is so funny with her games and endearing children to herself. Look at Malachi's smile!

They tried many combos...Elijah in back Malachi in front...

(I should have had this when Malachi was born!)

Elijah on the front wheel...I mean, you can fit 5 kids in this thing. This is my new vehicle!

Both in the back! (Funny they both like the back seat the best!).

Ate Bebe came to visit--Mom really had a full first 30 hours! She didn't sleep 'til 6:30 p.m. Whew! What a journey.

Nate came home to see the stroller demo (I post this for Dad also...notice the shirt)

Yet another way to ride, the baby can sleep while another kids sits in front. This is great! People with small kids: Phil & Teds!!!

Elijah's baby belly next to mine. Grandma has fun ideas!

Malachi joins in the baby fun---3 baby bellies. Are these brothers excited or what?!

My midwife, Joy, came for another check up. Things are looking good. Any day now!

Now a trip to Duwha. Here's Emi's mom and my mom. "I pray for you every day in my quiet time," Loretta said to my mom.

Here's Emi and her beautiful 5 kids wearing the outfits my mom brought! They didn't want to take them off since they got them!

Me and my mom with the group. What fun to be in person with my mom!

Erica really was attached to my mom. Precious moments!

Then we went to kids' club in another part of our neighborhood. Emi was teaching.

Singing with the kids in Cebuano.

Emi led a kids' Bible club at her place a week ago with 35 kids. Then, these kids heard about it and wanted one by their place too. They just gather in the street and set up benches to learn about God's Word.

There's Mom watching the kids' club with Erica. I love this picture!

I post this one for Shirley M. Inside the Wheat Thin box are the glue and scissors they need for the craft. How resourceful of Emi to reuse the box!

Mom and I enjoyed walking together and having time to talk, just the 2 of us. We just happened to match with our purple and our hats. I was walking VERY slowly.

After this I went home and wiped out! Whew! What a busy 30 hours. Mom had a great sleep and we praise God that all her luggage arrived and she had smooth connections all the way. We hope you enjoyed these pictures, especially to my family!!!