Before 8am {Jenn}

“Life is an adventure, and there is no script. I see something in ordinary moments. I believe that perfection comes not when you are dressed perfectly and wearing lipstick – but in little moments and interactions that make up our days and build and sustain our relationships. Let me show you the beauty in your unscripted moments…”  — Karen Jacot Photography

Starting this post took me the longest time. I wanted to find just the right words to match the pictures Karen took one Tuesday morning in the middle of November. I needed my words to match the magic she captured in these images.  But as my posting deadline approached, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to do that. The photos themselves speak the words, and I’m so grateful to have one morning, before 8 am, held in the details.

waiting

It was just a Tuesday for us. On this particular Tuesday we were all home, no preschool drop-off kicking us into gear, no play dates calling our name.

But just a Tuesday is okay. Just a Tuesday is more than okay.  I know I will miss this age and stage as years go by, and slow mornings with my little boys will be one aspect I will never get back.  I say slow, but honestly, they don’t feel that way to me. I feel pulled into pieces while diapering this one, then that one, and then I feed one, then another, maybe myself, and in the meantime, reheat a cup or coffee once or twice.

Through Karen’s lens, the pieces in which I find myself showed up not so much as scattered parts, but as a whole. This whole is who I am as a mother. And these moments are the ones within which our children are growing, learning, becoming.

Earlyriser

Our “routine” has changed so much since that cool November morning, but it was as if someone knew the air was a little different.  And that little someone was six-month-old Abram. He was waking about 4 or 5 to eat and then would crash back out leaving me time to grab a few more minutes of sleep before big brothers woke, but he was so very interested in the click of Karen’s camera. We snuggled in the quiet for a few minutes and then made our way to drinks for all.

cup

I had no intention of facing my coffee cup outwards, but it happened – and it’s hokey little saying is so true, isn’t it?!

bottle

tv

We watched a bit of the local news, and I had my fingers crossed that the big boys would sleep a few minutes into the Today Show.

dadcoffee

johnup

No luck! By the time Daddy was showered and making coffee, John woke and was also wondering what was going on with the lady with the camera.

Adad

In the meantime, there’s Abram just giving sweet eyes to Karen’s camera. Future photographer?

ByeDaddy

And before we knew it, our oldest was up and at ’em as well and getting ready to do his daily good-bye routine with Daddy.

It goes a little something like…  “Bye. I love you. Have a good day! I love you. Bye. I love you. Bye. Have a good day!” There’s a lot of repetition and required hand signals. It’s one of the cutest things ever.

Cooking

And then…we ate.  It’s not often that we make a hot, wait-for-it breakfast, but we had biscuits from the weekend and some turkey sausage, so why not start a simple Tuesday with sausage biscuits.

bfast

bfast2

I love our little table area and try to eat with these guys as much as possible. My love for these pictures is in the details :: a growing big boy chowing down and crossed John feet. Priceless. I can’t imagine the food these guys will eat in ten years!

cry

We did decide to take a quick trip to Hobby Lobby and meet friends at the park, so the rest of the morning was a combination of getting the four of us dressed and out of the door with as little drama as possible. But there’s alway something right? I can’t even remember why this guy was crying, but I’m pretty certain I did something to fix it. It’s what we moms do, right?

tvcollage

On this quiet Tuesday, we watched way too much television.  But look, John’s reading at the same time. It couldn’t have been that mind-numbing of a time.

gettingdressed

phone

changing

The baby needed another nap, we all somehow managed to put clothes on, we giggled together, we packed snacks, and we even had a quick conversation with our grandma.

car

And we’re off.  Easy, right? We roll three across. For now. If anyone has questions about fitting three cars seats across a Highlander, call my husband.

And that was it. Just a Tuesday. I may have posted way too many pictures here. I couldn’t help it. These images are the magic, but they are just a small sample. Head over to Karen’s post to read more from her perspective and see moments — tiny, perfect, every day moments.  I might be behind on baby books, but I’ve already created a photo book of these images {thanks to Jessica’s inspiration!}, and like Misty, I want to do it again in a few years!

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Jenn L
Jenn is an English teacher turned stay at home mom to boys Wyatt {2010}, John {2013}, and Abram {2014}. South Louisiana born and raised, North Louisiana educated, and Texas “polished,” she has found Houston to be home with her husband for the past ten years. After infertility struggles, in 2010 she traded in A Tale of Two Cities for Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and has since been busy discovering ways to learn while playing, maintaining a semi-scheduled family life, and integrating both Texas and Louisiana culture into her family. Besides making memories with her boys full time, she enjoys reading, running, crafting, cooking, and football. Y’all stop by When In Doubt, Add More Salt to read more about family adventures with the boys and Jenn’s thoughts on hot summers and Pinterest pin attempts, and her love/hate relationship with March Madness brackets.

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