Chicago Family Documentary Photographer | Henry : Newborn & Family Photographer Madison, WI

A Pavane for the Nursery

Now touch the air softly,
Step gently. One, two…
I’ll love you till roses
Are robin’s-egg blue;
I’ll love you till gravel
Is eaten for bread,
And lemons are orange,
And lavender’s red.

Now touch the air softly,
Swing gently the broom.
I’ll love you till windows
Are all of a room;
And the table is laid,
And the table is bare,
And the ceiling reposes
On bottomless air.

I’ll love you till Heaven
Rips the stars from his coat,
And the Moon rows away in
A glass-bottomed boat;
And Orion steps down
Like a diver below,
And Earth is ablaze,
And Ocean aglow.

So touch the air softly,
And swing the broom high.
We will dust the gray mountains,
And sweep the blue sky;
And I’ll love you as long
As the furrow the plow,
As However is Ever,
And Ever is Now.

–

by William Jay Smith

I had this poem memorized in high school, long before I had my own babies snuggled in my arms. And something about this beautiful family session made me think of it all over again. Maybe it was all the gentle swaying and bouncing Henry received. Maybe it was the home that felt so rich and layered with its recent beautiful labor. Maybe it was the palpable love between two mothers. Or all of it combined.

I walked through the gate on a sunny Saturday morning and climbed the wooden stairs to an open, welcoming porch. It’s a lovely perch from which to watch the baby buggies, the young families, the pups, the ice cream peddlers. Warm coffee in hands, Amanda and Jodi watch the neighborhood go by, and in between long sips, softly lullabying Bob Marley to baby Henry. Cats slip through the fence, peering up to say hello and then dart away.

We stroll into their sweet garden; high fences block out sight and sound of their bustling urban ‘hood. I feel captivated by co-mingling herbs and roses and lettuces and grasses. The light is gorgeously dappled and showing off in a gentle breeze. Fat summer leaves are dancing shadows across the yard, flower boxes, sleeping faces, thus giving us an extraordinary look at this time and place. Six months from now the yard will be aglow in autumnal hues and Henry will be sitting like a prince; a year from today he’ll be padding in the downy grass by himself, chasing the visiting birds and butterflies.

After a nourishing nap and stretch, we head back in so Jodi can start a magnificent bison sauce. She chops and blends with the the ease of a seasoned chef. A written recipe is notably absent. Amanda and Henry bounce on the ball, bringing calm. They chat and Jodi moves about the enviable space–alive with color and decor-while the bouquet of onions and peppers and carrots and garlic and bison caramelizing in tomato paste creates Van Gogh-esque swirls throughout the air.

Henry visits his crib, and here at the ripe age of seven weeks, begins to track his mobile above. His legs kick his frog sheets, his arms flutter, and his eyes are locked on the colorful scene. Musical notes pour from the crib, and his mothers are adorably in awe of this new milestone.

A full circle of nursing and diaper & outfit changes, and it’s time to let them go on with their ordinary Saturday.

Black and white. Mother holds her newborn son while sitting on a backyard patio.

Black and white. Mother picks up baby son while sitting on porch patio.

Black and white. Mother holds newborn son while sitting on a patio chair.

Mothers sit on patio with two cups of coffee. one holding newborn son.

Black and white. Two mothers sit inside holding their newborn son.

Mother holds her crying newborn son in entry way to a house.

Baby boy wearing blue fuzzy onesie lays in red car seat stroller on backyard patio.

Two photos of the same brick house and green grass in the backyard. brick house with green grass in the backyard blurred. Camera focused on the green grass in the backyard of a red brick house.

Baby boy laying in a red stroller mother standing on the patio next to him.

Mother holds sleeping baby boy while watching a women garden in their backyard.

Pink rose blossom surrounded by dark green leaves.

Two mothers gardening in their backyard, one holding their sleeping baby boy.

Two mothers in their backyard one holding their sleeping baby boy the other stroking his head.

Mother holding sleeping baby boy. Camera angle of mothers hands supporting him and his little feet resting.

Black and white. Mother holding sleeping baby boy. mother has burp cloth hung over her shoulder.

Mother holds baby boy looking over her shoulder.

Plant hanging in the air by red ropes next to purple walls.

Black and white. Mother holds and cuddles her baby boy. her hand resting on his bare back

Black and white. Mother holding baby boy as he looks over her shoulders and out the window.

Baby boy laying on changing table as his mother puts a blue onesie on him.

Mother holds up baby boy and kisses him.

Fresh orange carrots with green leaves still on lay on a wood cutting board on a wood table.

Ground beef in a cooking pot laying in a sink as water falls fills the pot. green and yellow peppers sit on a wood cutting board with a knife.

Mother holds newborn son in her kitchen.

Woman in her kitchen washes fresh red cherry tomatoes. Three colanders hand from a pot rack on a kitchen wall.

Many fresh vegetables sit on kitchen counter next to two wooden cutting boards.

Two woman in a blue and yellow kitchen, one chopping fresh vegetables, the other sitting and holding sleeping newborn baby.

Woman in a kitchen makes chili on a stove.

Black and white. Baby's tiny hand resting on mothers shirt.

Two woman in a blue and yellow kitchen, one cooking on the stove, the other sitting and holding sleeping newborn baby.

Woman adds salt and stirs chili on the stove.

Black and white. Woman in her bedroom holds baby boy as he looks over her shoulder.

Black and white. Newborn baby's tiny legs curled up and feet laying on a bed

Newborn baby laying on his back in his crib.

Black and white. Mothers hold and cuddle newborn baby boy.

Amanda’s words about our at-home documentary newborn sessions:

My wife and I wanted a photographer that would capture not just an image but our unique story–Jen did that and more, she is a true artist. We love the work, wish I could have her follow us around more often! Here’s the knitty gritty: Jen is an excellent photographer, she was smack dab on time for our appointment, and she is a genuine delight to spend several hours with. We highly recommend Jen Lucas Photography, and will use Jen for future photography projects.

Please contact me today to capture your Beautifully Ordinary story! xo, Jen

Beautifully Ordinary is a trademark of Jen Lucas Photography, LLC.