French Toast Mornings

On school days, the dark sleepy stillness in our house breaks at 6:15am. Coffee brewing, feet shuffling, spoons clattering, "I can't find my socks" shouting — a forty-five minute lightning round of organized chaos. My middle schooler grabs the before-7am city bus with violin in hand, while my bed-headed fourth grader dazes off on the corner waiting for the neighborhood boys to herd together for their daily walk to school. I throw out an enthusiastic cheerleader-style wave to my kindergartner through smudged yellow bus windows, then head across town through commuter-heavy streets while NPR croons on the radio.

Family of four in bed

That late September sunrise means daybreak is still thick and dewy at 8am. The sun hasn't climbed above the old reaching trees yet, so when Buddy excitedly greets me at the door, the fresh-from-slumber home is deliciously cool and dark. Insulated. The buzzing clangor of the outside world stays there, and I follow Jenny upstairs to where her people are just waking.

Mom carries newborn downstairs while toddler is ahead of them

Top-down view of mother touching newborn son, sleeping. Black and white.

Dog sniffs newborn sleeping baby.

Black and white, newborn boy yawning wiht tightly closed eyes.

Kitchen lights flicker on. Coffee begins to burble. Benton and Mayla work on assembling french toast while Wilder yawns and stretches into Buddy's curious nudge. All of it kindling to those hallowed, slow-to-wake newborn mornings.

Three images: dad puts egg-soaked bread on griddle; dad sprinkles cinnamon on bread; dad flips french toast

Wide scene: Mother holds newborn baby in dining room, dad flips French toast in kitchen

Mom holds newborn baby. Baby is alert.

Family of four at breakfast table. Mom drinks coffee and holds newborn, preschool daughter pours syrup on mom's toast, and dad cuts daughter's French toast.

Family of four at breakfast table. Mom and preschool daughter pour syrup on mom's toast, and dad cuts daughter's French toast.

Daughter pours syrup on French toast; top-down view of daughter eating French Toast

Black and white photo of family at breakfast table. Dad smiling at preschool daughter, mom smiles at newborn smile

Mom holds baby over her shoulder, baby is awake, daughter in background is unknowingly making a similar mouth expression as baby brother

Small white dog looks out front window.

Mom passes newborn son to dad, breakfast on table

Sister comes into kiss newborn brother, baby looks at dad, mom eats breakfast

Baby looks at dad, daughter look and smiles s at dad, mom smiles at daughter. Everyone is at hte breakfast table

Mom holds newborn over shoulder, newborn is awake and making eye contact with camera

Preschooler holds new baby brother's hand. They are wearing matching green and white striped pajamas.

Preschool girl sits in her pink bed in a teal room, holding a doll like a baby. A white dog looks out the window. A large stuffed giraffe is in the room.

Black and white. Preschool sister and mom both kiss the cheek of new baby at hte same time.

Mom and baby stand at the door while dad and daughter in bedroom choosing clothes for the day.

top down view of newborn son smiling and making eye contact with preschool sister

Sister takes newborn brother's picture wiht toy camera while dad starts to change his diaper

Top down black and white of newborn boy's profile

Mother nurses newborn in chair.

Mother nurses newborn in chair.

Mom smiles at newborn, sitting in the chair with subtle window light coming in camera left.

Black and white. Mom looks at newborn and newborn looks out the window. Very sweet.

Sister holds baby brother's hand while getting changed.

Dad holds newborn son in his arms

Tight shot of sleeping newborn with sister touching his hands, smiling at him.

Daughter looks at newborn, Mom looks at newborn, Dad looks at daughter. Everyone smiling.

Mom wraps baby into cloth baby-wearing fabric.

Jenny brushes Mayla's hair while wearing Wilder. A slow wake, a leisurely breakfast, park play in the sunshine — all while snuggling the newest member of the family. And nestled inside that sweet routine is also an immeasurable daily exhaustion, and grocery shopping, and sickness, and so many needs popping up like a game of Whack-a-Mole.

Daughter plays with hair clips while mother brushes hair while wearing sleeping baby

Mom bab-wears sleeping baby at the park

Girl swings on swings and make a "taco" tongue.

Mom and Dad help daughter take off sweater the park at the same time.

Dappled light exposes a fallen oak leaf. Girl's feet dangles on playground equipment over the leaf.

Black and white portrait of family of four.

 I believe in the documentary approach because it allows us to marinate in the realness long after the moment has passed. My own personal newborn mornings were similar--busy yet without a pressing agenda. I have a different, not easier/harder, not better/worse, type of morning now that my boys are older, and I can deeply appreciate the contrast between an ordinary day with a newborn and one with school-aged kiddos.

And both have infinite value to me. Jenny shared her thoughts on working with me:

Jen is wonderful to work with - fun, flexible, energetic and great with kids. But her images truly set her apart from the rest. She captures the magic in the little details of everyday life. Moments that will make your heart sing and that you may have never realized you never wanted to forget. Her images are both real and works of art.

xo, Jen

Beautifully Ordinary is a trademark of Jen Lucas Photography, LLC