Life Before 8am {Kristina}

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“See and appreciate the significance in the mundane, in the everyday, in the fleeting. The big moments are important, but some of the best moments are the in-between ones.” –Karen Jacot Photography

Karen came to our house on a Thursday morning, right as my husband was leaving for work. I was really excited for her to come because I love pictures, but I was also nervous because my daughter is crazy. I never know what kind of morning we are going to have. Luckily, my daughter was so intrigued by Karen and what she was doing that we had the best morning we have ever had. I am going to call this series of photos “My Ideal Morning” because, let’s be honest, it doesn’t always flow so seamlessly for us. I love music and music lyrics so I picked lyrics from different songs that I like to go along with each picture. Here’s our ideal Thursday morning!

Kristina 8am 1 (1)“I’m beginning to feel the years, but I’m going to be okay. As long as you’re beside me along the way. I’m gonna make it through the night and into morning light.” -Brandi Carlile, “Beginning to Feel The Years”

Karen caught my husband right as he was leaving for work.

Kristina 8am 2“Momma once told me, you’re already home where you feel loved.” -The Head and the Heart, “Lost In My Mind”

I don’t often wake up before my daughter, but if I do I usually take some time to read.Kristina 8am 3“All that I can give you is forever yours to keep. Wake up every day with a dream and happy everafter in your eyes. Happy everafter is in your eyes.” -Ben Harper, “Happy Everafter in Your Eyes”

My love is awake and very curious about who Karen is!

Kristina 8am 3.5“But oh the songs people will sing for home! And for the ones that have been gone too long. Oh the things people will do for the ones that they love!” -The Head and The Heart, “Coeur d’Alene”

Getting a fresh diaper. Always fun (insert sarcasm).

Kristina 8am 4“What can I compare you to, a window the sun shines through? Maybe the silver moon, a smile rising. The magic of the fading day, satellites on parade. A toast to the plans we’ve made to live like kings.” -The Weepies, “Take It From Me”

Talking about what we are going to do next. In this case it was get water and have morning snuggle time.

Kristina 8am 5“You can’t just say I love you. You have to live I love you.” -Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, “Heart of Matters”

We always start our day with snuggles.

Kristina 8am 6“If I could make your heart feel always loved, I would give my world up to make you always loved.” -Azure Ray, “Make Your Heart”

More snuggles.

Kristina 8am 7“She’s a good girl. Loves her mama.” -Tom Petty, “Free Fallin'”

Looking at a picture on the refrigerator before we get our breakfast.

Kristina 8am 8“Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. Like why are we here and where do we go and how come it’s so hard. It’s not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving. I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together.” -Jack Johnson, “Better Together”

Breakfast party of two. I don’t always sit with her while she eats, but today was a special day.

Kristina 8am 9“Baby you’ve got the sort of laugh that waters me and makes me grow tall and strong and proud and flattens me. I find you stunning, but you are running me down. My love’s too big for you my love.” -Ingrid Michaelson, “Sort Of”

We had a lot of time before we needed to leave so we played games in baby bop’s room.

Kristina 8am 10“In our rooms filled with laughter, we make hope from every small disaster. Everybody says, ‘you can’t, don’t try.’ Still everybody says that if they had the chance they’d fly like we do.” -The Weepies, “Painting by Chagall”

Having fun with her mini soccer ball.

Kristina 8am 11“I see your sweet smile shine through the darkness. Its line is etched in my memory so I’d know you by heart.” -Eva Cassidy, “I Know You By Heart”

Drinking the last sips of her blueberry juice.

Kristina 8am 12“Anyway the thing is, what I really mean, yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen.” -Elton John, “Your Song”

Entertaining Karen while mommy is off somewhere probably cleaning up.

Kristina 8am 13“Fathers be good to your daughters. Daughters will love like you do. Girls become lovers who turn in to mothers so mothers be good to your daughters too.” -John Mayer, “Daughters”

A quiet moment at her kitchen sink.

Kristina 8am 14“Oh how I waited for you. Oh how I longed to meet you. Oh how I wondered who you’d be. Now I see, cause you’re here with me.” -Frances England, “Here With Me”

Eating pretzels on the couch.

Kristina 8am 15“We make bread on Sundays and the little ones are climbing up the walls. Up the walls. Nothing lasts forever, but the sound of love astounds me every time that it calls.” -Ingrid Michaelson, “Wonderful Unknown”

She’s on to her next activity.

Kristina 8am 16“We’re only here to find the love that lingers after the moment.” -The Head and the Heart, “Coeur d’Alene”

Putting on jackets before we head outside.

Kristina 8am 17“Though your feet may take you far from me, I know. Wherever is your heart I call home.”-Brandi Carlile, “Wherever is Your Heart”

On our way to “gym gym class,” as she calls it.

Kristina 8am 19“Tomorrow you will know there’s no day better than today. We don’t see how lucky these days are till they go away…till these days go away. Gotta live em with love again again again.” -Ingrid Michaelson, “Live It With Love”

And we’re off! Hope you enjoyed a glimpse in to our ideal Thursday morning!

For more pictures and a peek into Karen’s perspective of this Life Before 8am shoot, be sure to check out her post here. And don’t forget to check out the rest of the posts in this amazing series as well!
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Kristina was born in Boston, but has called many places home since then. Although she has lived in every time zone in the United States, Colorado is by far her favorite place to live. Kristina is married to her middle school crush who she met when she was 12. Together they have a very spirited and sweet 3 year old daughter who is nicknamed Baby Bop. Baby Bop is super extroverted and her mama is a strange combination of an introvert with an outgoing side. Once you get to know her she is anything but quiet. Kristina’s favorite activities include reading, laughing, dancing, singing (loudly), and exploring all of the local playgrounds with her daughter. Kristina recently performed in the 2016 Boulder production of Listen To Your Mother. Her writing has also been featured on The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Mamalode, Parent.Co, The Mighty, and more. You can connect with her at kristinanewman.com or on Twitter (@ktinamou).

2 COMMENTS

  1. And I think I’ve just found a good start to my day and some inspiration for my morning momma playlist.” Beautiful! Thank you!

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