Favorite Toddler Books for Fall

On crisp autimn days...ok, that's a lie. Any day and every day, my favorite thing to do is snuggle up with my littles and read a good book. 

I am a self proclaimed Book Worm! I love a good book and have been collecting books for my babes since before I was even pregnant....seriously. 

Last summer, I organized all of our holiday books and have been changing them out seasonally. I love to pull out holiday books at the beginning of each season to get my littles excited for what is to come. 

These are a few of our FAVORITE books. I chose these because they highlight the features of the season (falling leaves, gusty air, chilly nights). They capture the fun in the activities that come with fall (jumping in piles of colorful leaves, apple picking, and adventuring through pumpkin patches)!

1. Let It Fall 

by Maryann Cocca-Leffler is delightful read that captures the spirit of the season with simple rhymes and captivating illustrations! It has become a favorite. This book is the perfect introduction to the Fall season and all the wonderful changes we see and get to do this time of year. 

2. If You're Spooky and You Know It
by Aly Fronis is a fun read! Seriously, so fun. This spooooky take on a classic song is bound to be a family favorite! Adorable illustrations and my Amina's favorite!

3. Five Little Pumpkins

A classic that I remember from Kindergarten! Rhyming short story with great illustrations! Great Segway to crafts, counting, and just plain fun!

4.Little Blue Truck's Halloween

by Alice Schertle. Our favorite Little Blue Truck is back in this festive Halloween board book. Read along as Little Blue picks up his friends for a costume party. This is a fun lift the flap book. Find out what the animals are dressing as for Halloween!

5. I Love Fall

by Alison Inches is a delightful touch and feel book. The simple rhymes, beautiful illustrations, and hands on-ness has made this one of our favorite books about fall and the changes that come with the season. 

6. 10 Trick-or-Treaters

by  is a fun holiday counting book with everyone's favorite fall activity, Trick-or-Treating! Drew and Amina love the illustrations, vibrant colors, and picking which costume is their favorite! 

7. A Pumpkin Prayer

by Amy Parker is the sweetest prayer of thanksgiving for all the wonderful parts of fall. Beautiful illustrations and...is there anything cuter than a sweet babe praying?! I don't think so. 

8. The Biggest Pumpkin Surprise Ever
by Steven Kroll is a rhyming story with a hands on lift the flap element! Score! Cute short story about pumpkins and is a favorite before we decorate ours!

9. Room on the Broom

by Julia Donaldson is a tale about a witch and her cat flying through the air. While flying, the witch loses her hat, bow, and wand. A few new friends help her and join in on the fun! When along comes a dragon, little readers find out just how helpful these new friends are! 

10. Halloween Jack

by Roger Priddy is a spooktacular read for littles!! A cast of creepy characters and silly rhymes makes this board book our favorite!! My littles love the googly eyes and crazy characters! 

Fall Bucket List

I love Fall. 

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! One of my favorite things to do at the start of each season is write a bucket list. It's the perfect activity for my type A personality and....it gets me into the spirit of the season! 

There's something about that crisp autumn air, comfy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and those cozy evenings at home!

Since my kiddos are still too little to help, I came up with 7 Fall Family Fun Activities.  

Visit a Pumpkin Patch 

Go Apple Picking

Go on a Leaf Hunt

Paint a Pumpkin

Go Puddle Jumping 

Carve a Pumpkin (I have NEVER carved a pumpkin...I know, shocking! But...this is my year!)

Bake Something Pumpkin (Anything pumpkin. Heck, EVERYTHING Pumpkin!) I used to love baking and haven't done it as much as I'd like to with my littles. 

***this summer a childhood friend motivated me to create a summer bucket list. After making a list of things I wanted to enjoy with my littles, I decided to spend my summer creating meaningful memories with my kids....put the phone down, be present, and enjoy the moment. I wanted to spend quality time with these amazing little people. It was the best thing I have ever done. We had the best summer and although they weren't perfect, my kids were amazing...they weren't competing for my attention, they were having fun, and they were excited! I hope this encourages you to do the same....soak up this magical time and enjoy your babies. 

All About that Cake

My littlest love has been here...

1 year. 

12 months. 

365 days. 

Bea is O N E. 

This is an occasion we don't take lightly.

Although we didn't do a cake smash with my older babes, I really wanted to do one with Bea. 

I am so glad I did...

Photos: Rhea Ashlynn Photography

Cake: Couture Cupcakery

Romper: Born Free Boutique

Disclaimer....Bea was actually not at all about that cake. My kids are weird about getting dirty. I think they get that from their father (insert eye roll). 

The Grandest Gifts

Growing up, my grandparents were an important part of my life. 

Many of my favorite childhood memories were at my grandparents' home.

Sleepovers with my Abuelito and Abuelita. Making gorditas. La Panederia with my Wito. Luckys Grocery Store Shopping. Drinking Coffee with too much milk and too much sugar (CANNOT seem to break that habit). Doing homework using the best math manipulatives, frijoles. Chocolate Abuelita. Reading Anne of Green Gables with my Grandma. My first library card. 

These are the memories of my chidhood. 

As excited as I was to become a momma, I was even more excited for my mom, mother in law, and father in law to become grandparents.  

From the moment they knew our littles (all 3) were coming, they loved them, spoiled them, and proved to be the most hands on Grandparents I have ever seen. From bed rest to nurserys to birthday parties and everything in between, these grandparents were there...cooking, cleaning, hanging, assembling, and loving these little people. 

They are the best playmates, story book readers, racers, and dragon hunters. They build, play dinosaurs, get check ups from our little doctors, play coffee shop, and sing (a bit off tune...jk)! They wrestle and sword fight and find cats in the neighborhood. They bring food, pick up Tylenol when little ones are feeling blue, and teach them things about our families and traditions that I never knew. 

They are my children's favorite people. Mine too. 

They adore their grand babies and gosh, those grand babies adore them.  

I love watching Amina, Drew, and Bea with their grandparents. 

So, in honor of National Grandparents Day (this Sunday), I wanted to say thank you to some of the most important people in my children's life...Pop Pop, Grammy, and LuLu. Thank you for all that you do...not only today, but every day.

I know one day, these littles are going to look back and their favorite memories will be of you.