Sonia and Jessica share the fun mom Fall experience checklist to do with your littles and mom friends this season! The Mamas start with a chat about the unhinged Netflix series ‘Baby Fever’ and what makes it worth your watch! Next, they dive into Fall; the ten best Fall things to do with your little ones, friends and family this season! It’s the first week of September! So, if you start this list now, you might get to enjoy most of it before the Halloween costume shopping… and/or DIYing takes over! If you’re pregnant with your first or on your way to your miracle baby, still have all these amazing Fall experiences, but make them adult style! Enjoy Mama!

Topics discussed in this episode:

(02:44) ‘Baby Fever’ On Netflix

(05:12) Intro: It’s September… Already

(06:21) The Fun Mom Fall Experience Checklist To Do With Your Little Ones & Your Mom Friends

Mentioned in this episode:

Grab your mom bestie and take the kids for a scenic walk, hayride or train ride!

You know where to find the most scenic walks and hayrides in your area! And here’s a list of the most scenic fall foliage train rides in America!

Attend a fall Festival

If you’re not sure when your local fall festivals are this year, check facebook events to see what’s happening in your area; and here’s a list of festivals happening across America, Maine and Texas! If there are no festivals in your area, there could be a cute farm where the kids can get outside and visit the animals!

Go peach or apple picking & visit a pumpkin patch and a corn maze

• Peach Season is anywhere from May-late September.

• Apple picking season starts in August and goes through November. 

• Pumpkin patches and corn mazes are a great idea throughout the month of October.

Have a cozy movie night in with your little ones

Here’s a list of great movies for toddlers…

• Room on The Broom on Amazon Prime is based on the beloved children's book by Julia Donaldson, "Room on the Broom" is a charming animated short film that follows a kind witch and her cat as they make new friends while flying on a broomstick. This heartwarming tale is perfect for Halloween and will captivate your toddler with its delightful characters and gentle story.

• "Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest" is available to rent on most tv streaming networks. Join Curious George in this fun-filled Halloween adventure. George and his friends embark on a quest to find the legendary scarecrow "No Noggin." With its colorful animation and playful storyline, this movie is perfect for young children who enjoy mild Halloween-themed excitement.

• "The Gruffalo" on Amazon Prime is based on the popular book by Julia Donaldson; "The Gruffalo" is a beautifully animated film that tells the story of a clever mouse who invents a fantastical creature to scare off predators. With its charming animation and engaging story, this short film is sure to captivate toddlers and parents alike.

• Spookley on Netflix was first introduced to millions of children in author Joe Troiano's book, The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, in which Spookley is shunned by all of the round pumpkins until a mighty storm threatens to destroy the entire pumpkin patch and only Spookley, with his unique shape, can save the day.  Spookley delivers a powerful message of tolerance and kindness that is embraced by educators, caregivers, and non-profit organizations worldwide.

But wait, there’s more! For children who’ve graduated from the toddler stage, there are so many great fall movies to watch with your little ones of all ages! And… possibly best of all, it's Gilmore Girls Season if you have a young teen! Enjoy!

Snuggle up for a fall-themed reading night

Here’s a list of great fall books for toddlers…

• The Switch Witch by Heather Grimm is the story of a very sweet witch who loves candy. She waits all year long for Halloween night when she secretly flies from home to home, collecting candy from children and swapping it for little gifts and treats. If, and only if, they choose to leave their candy out for the Switch Witch, they will find goodies waiting for them when the sun rises! 

• The Leaf Thief is a funny picture book that teaches kids about autumn, adapting to change, and the seasons. Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree―red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.

• The Scarecrow is a picture book about two unexpected friends and the special connection they share. This tender and affectionate story reminds us of the comforting power of friendship and the joy of helping others—a tale that will inspire and delight children for generations to come. All the animals know not to mess with the old Scarecrow. But when a small, scared crow falls from midair, Scarecrow does the strangest thing.… He saves the tiny baby crow. Soon a loving bond grows between the two unlikely friends. But is it strong enough to weather the changing of the seasons?

Make A Fall Wreath at Home with Leaves, Pine Cones, Fall Flowers, Etc.

Get more use out of your little one’s new fall wardrobe and have a DIY fall photoshoot in their cutest fall outfits

Here’s your step-by-step guide to getting the best DIY fall photos with your kiddos…

• Be sure to check for sunset times in your area and get started at around an hour before.

• Take your little ones to a nature preserve or a beautiful field with public access.

• Set your phone camera to portrait mode.

• Take your photos with the sun behind your kiddos to capture some gorgeous fall sun flares.

• Bring a blanket and a pumpkin or two as props to keep them entertained.

• If you have a selfie stick, you can get in the picture with your littles ones for some fun fam photos!

Have a baking night!

Here’s Jessica’s list of fall things to bake with your little ones… and after bedtime!

🎃 Pumpkin Cheesecake Whoopie Pies 

🍰 No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

🥮 Banana Pudding Cheesecake

🤎 Better Than Sex Trifle ; For an extra ‘kick’ you can add a shot of baileys to each chocolate cake layer! (lol)

🍎 Apple Butter Meatballs With Bourbon 

Create a leaf pile together and jump in! When you’re done playing in the leaves, collect a few leaves to make some easy autumn leaf note cards for your kids to write notes or draw on for friends and family.

Here’s how… Collect some colorful leaves . (Leaves that are small and delicate work best.) Place them between sheets of paper towels or newspaper, and then lay them between heavy books. Give the leaves a few days to dry and flatten out. When they’re dried, have your children glue them to a folded piece of paper or card stock to make notecards. Help your little one write someone a special note or ask them to draw a picture inside the card for the person they want to give it to. This is a great way to reinforce fine motor skills!

Make a gratitude book honoring family and friends

Many families enjoy celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday together. This skill-boosting activity can be a sweet way to help your child express gratitude for family members and friends this fall. Help your child make their own book of all the special people in their life. Print out photos of family members and friends, let your child arrange and glue them onto sturdy sheets of paper, and help them staple the pages together or tie them with ribbon. Give them supplies they can use to decorate the book: glitter pens, sequins, stickers, bits of shiny paper, pictures cut from old greeting cards and magazines. When your child is done, look at the book together and talk about the special people in the photos and why you’re thankful for them. Not only will this book be a cherished memento, this project will also help your child strengthen fine motor, communication, social-emotional, and problem-solving skills.

Need something a little less in depth? Another activity to help your little ones learn gratitude (without a trip to the craft store) is Creating a gratitude jar or basket and filling it with small notes of the things your little ones notice that they feel appreciation for. (You could have them use some of their autumn leaf note cards to write their thoughts on) 

And next thing you know… everyone will be shopping for Halloween costumes… which, btw, Sonia found the cutest DIY toddler Harry Potter costume for Annabelle and you have to see it!

Mom Reels For The Group Chat…

🍁 How-To Keep Up With All That Fall & Back To School Season Brings!

📚 It’s Officially ‘You’ve Got School Tomorrow’ Season!

👀 Stay Calm, Stay Focused & Choose To Ignore Distractions That Don’t Serve us!

🎀 Amber Wallin’s Toddler Has Filed Her Extensive List of Grievances!

🏠 There Are Two Types Of Moms & They’re Usually Sisters!

Reminder… Listeners can receive 20% off services at Ageless Medical Aesthetics in Westbrook, ME with Code: MAMAS2024 when you follow them on instagram!

Also… Receive a Free First Swim Class at Goldfish Swim in Portland, Maine with same code: MAMAS2024; you’ll need to call them to schedule your little one’s first class.

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If you or someone you know is 35+ and struggled with fertility, experienced heartbreaking fostering or adoption challenges, endured a miscarriage, or were perhaps flat out told by a doctor that you will never conceive naturally, and eventually found your happy ending by becoming a mama, your story could be what keeps another woman going on her journey to her miracle baby!

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xx, Sonia and Jessica

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