becoming FAMILY Fall 2014

Celebrating Fall as a Family

21

Beauty tips Â

Fall Issue 2014

Toddler + Baby Tips for introducing your newborn to your toddler

Every mom should know

becoming

F A M I LY

HOPE

Your gal pal.

Resources Answered question.

Social networking.

Birth classes.

A friend

Events.

An answers to your prayers.

Something for everyone

Community.

Education

Informative Blogs.

Webinars

Playgroups

A place to ask questions.

New to an area?

.

A good laugh.

A good cry.

Unique answers.

Family. A place to find answers.

becoming

F A M I LY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Janette Osemwota

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

@ExpectingMamas www.TheExpec+ngMamasNetwork.com

Eghe Lenze

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Irene Rainey

PUBLISHER

Join our community for

F A M I L Y

The Expecting Mamas Network

CONTRIBUTORS Marya Sherron Cassandra Card Roxana Snedeker

Connect with us

hello@theexpec+ngmamasnetwork.com

9801 FallCreek Rd #221 Indianapolis, IN 46236

becoming family fall 2014 

1

We need your help!

Do you have something you want to share? Want to get involved in our magazine?

Recipes

Photos

Do you have a family favorite recipe you want to share?

Want to share a photo?

Contribute?

Exercise tips

Dad’s Input

Do you have a weight loss story to tell? Tips?

We are always looking for Dad reviews and input

Questions?

Looking for answers?

Pregnancy story

Unique Pregnancy or birth story? We want to hear it!

Contact Us Today

Fun family activities

Send us your ideas, stories or photos.

Suggestions How are we doing?

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2 fall 2014 becoming family

This Season

Contents

becoming MAMA 6 Moms Need Hugs, too!

10 21 Beauty tips

becoming COUPLES 16 Reconnecting 20 Movie Review

becoming BABY 28 Finding Your Stride 23 Surviving the first 48hrs

becoming KIDS 32 Toddler + baby

Features

12 Fall Food Favorites 18 Fun Fall Activities 30 Costumes for the family becoming family fall 2014 

3

Lets Socialize!

what’s trendy right now

An App Every Family Should Have

Pin

it!

“Polyvore is a new way to discover and shop for things you love.”

Can’t decide what everyone should wear for your family photos? Let Polyvore help you choose! Our favorite pin this season comes from Polyvore.

4 fall 2014 becoming family

“Ibotta is a free, fun, and easy way to earn cash back for buying your favorite brands at your favorite stores. Don’t stand in line with a stack of coupons.

Ditch the coupons and get cash back the fun and easy way with Ibotta.”*

*source: itunes app store

Twitter Do you sleep Poll with your children?

39% No!

32% Yes 29% Sometimes

from the

Editor

B

eing a mom is a tough job! Learning to reach out to other moms is something we all have to do every now and then. Let’s face it, it really does take a village to raise a child. My business partner and I started The Expecting Mamas Network to help families just like yours. When we learned what it really means for a village to raise a child, we started becoming FAMILY. Having four kids with a husband who travels all over the world for business, I know what it means to lean on other moms when I need a helping hand. In this edition of becoming FAMILY you’ll find something for everyone. Fall, being one of my favorite times of the year, has inspired some of my favorite recipes too. I hope you enjoy our first edition and as always, welcome to our community of families.

becoming family fall 2014 

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Moms need hugs too!

Discovering the importance of having a 3 AM friend

by Marya Sherron As a young woman, the notion of

motherhood terrified me. The first six months of my pregnancy were spent reading everything I could grasp on how to raise children. Of all the wonderful things I was able to glean from the many books, magazine articles, and mommy manuals, one of the most important things I now know is that all moms need friends. Not just friends, but 3:00 AM friends.

becoming family fall 2014 

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becoming

MAMA I'm talking about the girlfriend you can call at 3:00 AM and cry your eyes out when you feel like you are failing as a mother; the girlfriend that will listen intently to your heart, encourage you, and then spur you on to continue to do the good, hard, and fruitful work of raising children. That is a BFF! Today, our two boys, Theo and Dylan, are thirteen and three respectively.

My budding teenager and restless toddler are delightful in most every way...separately. A simple car ride to the grocery store has its challenges: while one is wailing the lyrics to Elmo's Song, the other cringes and sighs, "Can we please listen to something else?" My homeschooling years were often described as Algebra and ABCs at the same time. I knew I was struggling when I started teaching the Pythagorean Theorem to my toddler and ABC phonics to my teenager! Yes, in the world of life's many possible challenges, these

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are miniscule. I know. Nonetheless, at the end of countless days, I found myself exhausted, frustrated, and wondering if I was raising or ruining our boys.

It is precisely days like this that I need to take some me-time or a mommyminute, and reach out to a sound, trusted friend. We all need this. We're not meant to raise our children or go at motherhood in isolation. Doing so can cause anxiety, insecurity, general stress, and a gravely inaccurate belief that we are the only one, the only mom, facing challenges.

Parenting is all encompassing, so much that it is easy to lose sight of the greater picture of our overall life. I often forget that 'Mom' isn't my sole identity. I have been deeply blessed by the many women I am surrounded by that speak truth and life into me. I have countless stories of girlfriends picking me up, dusting me off and sending me back into the ring...cheering me on all the way. I love this. I need this. Each friend does this in her own unique way, but in the end they all share the desire to see me grow and walk my motherhood journey joyfully.

The peace I experience after a visit with a girlfriend is indescribable. After a short time in a girlfriend's presence, I always leave feeling renewed, equipped, encouraged, and ready to joyfully continue. I'll admit that one of the highlights of time with a good friend is a simple, loving hug. So, there you have it...it's true: moms need hugs too!

Relax

and

UnWine

Grab a glass of wine and join our twitter party every Sunday night at 8 pm (EST) @expectingmamas #relaxandunwine

becoming

MAMA

Twenty-One Tips To still be a sexy Mama even after you become a Momma

Add eye drops to old mascara to prevent it from drying out

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Spray bobby pins to add extra hold

Need to blot?

Toilet seat covers make great blotting tissue.

Reuse your expensive mascara brush.

Vaseline makes a great natural looking mascara.

Mascara can double as eyeliner.

Deodorant

prevents bikini line bumps after shaving.

Use baby oil instead of shaving cream.

MAMA

Instead of lotion, try coconut oil.

Apply dry shampoo the night before not the day Use rubber of. bands to touch

up a French Place Vaseline on your manicure.

Use your toothbrush to exfoliate your lips.

Using white eyeliner can accentuate your cupids bow.

becoming

wrist before perfume for a longer lasting scents.

Apply baby powder between each application of mascara for longer for lashes.

Use a toothbrush to clean your hairdryer.

To avoid lipstick Use cold green tea on your teeth stick bags under your eyes your finger in your to reduce puffiness. mouth and pull it out.

Use shimmering eye Color your entire Warm your shadow in the corners eyelid with white eyelash curler of your eyes to eyeliner to make for longerbrighten and enhance eye shadow color lasting curls. them. pop. becoming family fall 2014  11

Cooking with

Pumpkin

As the leaves begin to change color and the weather cools,

everything about fall comes alive. Nothing is more quintessentially fall than the pumpkin. Although in October pumpkins decorate our homes and many families use pumpkins as intricately designed Jack-O-Lanterns, the pumpkin has become the forgotten fruit. Let’s face it, the last time you ate pumpkin was in a pie at Thanksgiving. This year, I ask you to throw away your assumptions about pumpkin and dive into a very versatile food.

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PUMPKIN CHILI

makes 8 servings

2 lb ground beef 1 large diced onion 1 diced green pepper 2 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained 1 (46 oz tomato juice) 1 (28 oz) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice ½ cup canned pumpkin puree 1 T pumpkin pie spice 1 T chili powder 1/8 cup white sugar

In a large pot, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Add onions and green pepper, cook another 5 minutes. Add beans, tomato juice, diced tomatoes and pumpkin puree. Season with the spices and sugar. Simmer for an hour and enjoy!

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

recipe provided by Nathan Engels at wannabite.com

2 c pumpkins seeds (cleaned) 2 t olive oil ½ t sea salt ½ t onion powder ½ t garlic powder ⅛ t cayenne pepper 1 T powdered sugar ⅓ t cinnamon 2 t Worcestershire sauce

Put cleaned seeds in bowl.

Add all remaining ingredients. Stir until all seeds are well coated.

Cover a cookie sheet with foil. Spray foil with nonstick spray. Spread seeds evenly on cookie sheet. Bake at 275 for about 60 minutes Store in airtight container for up to a year or in the refrigerator (3 months NOT refrigerated).

PUMPKIN SOUP

makes 8 servings

6 cups chicken stock 1 ½ t salt 3 ½ c cubed fresh pumpkin 1 t fresh parsley 1 c chopped onion ¼ t thyme ½ c heavy whipping cream ¼ t black pepper

Heat ingredients except heavy cream and parsley in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

Puree all ingredients. Add heavy cream, heat for an additional 30 minutes, serve with fresh parsley.

Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber and mono-unsaturated fatty acids

becoming family fall 2014 

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WE WANT Program

Ambassador

YOU!

We need you!

Are you a confident,

Are you a confident, charismatic and charismatic

committedand connector? committed connector?

We’re looking for for ambassadors to We’re looking for help create connections for families! ambassadors to helpus today!

Contact www.TheExpectingMamasNetwork.com create for ambassadors to help create

connections connec+ons for families for families!

Contact us today! www.TheExpectingMamasNetwork.com becoming family fall 2014  21

Ambassador

Spotlight

Eghe Lenze This mom of twins is profoundly passionate about helping others’ expanding families. She is the driving force behind The Expecting Mamas Network.

What’s the hardest part of being a mom?

Understanding that being a mom is one of your many roles and not your only role.

Best piece of advice for new moms?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Why did you start EMN?

To be the help that every mom needs.

How do you handle being a mom and a business woman?

I try to plan ahead. I set aside a lot of time for my kids. Family is so important to me, but I also set aside time where I focus solely on my business.

Who has been your biggest influence?

My mother. She has always encouraged me, and that has led me to be a confident woman and mother.

becoming family fall 2014 

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Reconnecting

…after a baby

Having a baby can change everything about being a couple.

Your relationship has now gone for 2 to 3 (or more).

Remembering the importance of your relationship with your significant other is so important. See our dating calendar for some fun ideas to stay connected.

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dating

Calendar

Go see a movie at a drive in

1

4

Bring $5 to a store and see who comes up with the best gift.

7 Attend a wine tasting.

14

Go to a bar and challenge each other to a game of pool.

17 Go see a local band

9 Go skydiving.

20 Go to the

symphony.

30

Stay the weekend in a romantic cabin.

24

Go to a shooting range together.

becoming family fall 2014 

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1. Visit a Pumpkin

patch Nothing says fall more than pumpkins! If your family has never had the pleasure of picking their pumpkin from an actual pumpkin patch, it is highly recommended! For extra fun, watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown before your visit.

2.

Image credit Roxana Snedeker

5 activities for

Fall Family Fun! This fall, as the weather cools down and

the leaves begin to change, consider spending more time with your family and less time around the TV and tablets. Fall presents us with a unique time to escape from the summer heat and the bitter cold.

Getting outside and falling into leaf piles or enjoying a bike ride should become a priority. Here are five things even busy families can do together!

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Volunteer

Fall is a time for being thankful! Volunteering in your area is a good way to give back to your community and teach your children about the importance of helping others.

3. Bake different

pies

Apple pie! Pumpkin pie!

Pecan pie! Cherry pie!

Let’s face it, the amount of pie fillings is endless. Get together with your family and make a few of your fall favorites. Don’t forget to let your kids help!

4. Family Photos

The changing of the leaves gives your family the perfect backdrop for family photos. Get dressed up, find a local photographer and take photos of those beautiful smiles!

5. Do crafts together The amount of fall crafts is endless. From creating a fall leaf family tree, to making a water colored pumpkin. Visit www.pinterest.com/ theexpectingmamas for more fall family crafts.

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Coming Soon

Our Picks

Fall Entertainment

Big Hero 6 Coming November 7, 2014

A group of six superheroes are recruited by the government to protect the nation.

Coming this Fall Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Coming October 10, 2014

Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, and things just get worse as his day progresses.

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“Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.”

The Best of Me Walt Disney Coming October 17, 2014

A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.

The Box Trolls Coming September 26, 2014

A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Based on the children's novel 'Here Be Monsters' by Alan Snow.

becoming family fall 2014 

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Get the accountability you are looking for.

@.com/Expec+ngMamasNetwork.com Â

Bringing Home Baby

becoming

BABY

What to know about your newborn So you’ve done it. You’ve given birth.

From the moment you leave the hospital, bundle of joy in your arms, you realize you know how to decipher your newborn on you own. No

more nurses that come and

answer your most intimate questions without hesitation.

Now you have to figure that mysterious cry on your own.

Every parent experiences some form of anxiety when it comes to having a baby.

Whether this is your first or fifth, all newborns present different circumstances. It is true when they say that every kid is different. Your first child could have been an angel as a baby, but you just can’t get your second child to stop crying. Babies are enigmas and its your job as a parent to try to figure them out. The first 48 hours with your newborn often lets you know just what kind of baby you have. It can be daunting to try to remember the last time you fed them or how exactly are you supposed to clean an umbilical cord, but you can do this! Everyone has the potential to be an amazing parent. Let’s get the party started.

becoming family fall 2014 

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Is that normal?

Babies do not come with manuals. When you left the hospital, your nurse or doctor probably helped you to understand some normal aspects of your newborn, but there are a few things that no one can prepare you for. For instance, after your milk comes in, a newborns poop changes in more ways than you can imagine. Did you know you can sometimes see your baby’s pulse on the soft spot on their head? What happens if you touch it? No need to worry. Although you shouldn’t press or play with your child’s soft spot, if you touch the spot while washing your new baby, everything will be okay.

Identify the cry

Was that a squeal of joy or a screech of pain? Trying to identify why your newborn is crying can be a horrific experience for a parent. If this is your first child, you have gone from a silent home to one that is full of noise. Getting used to your newborns coos and cries is your first job as a parent. You can no longer depend on your nurse to find out what’s wrong, you have to learn how to communicate on your own.

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This is just a phase

Remember that this moment right now will be completely different than the next one.

Everything about your newborn changes within the minute, so try to appreciate the moments while you have them. Before you blink, your newborn won’t be a newborn any more. There are so many people out there that crave what you have right now. Try to see the good in this moment, even if it is hard.

It’s Daddy turn

No one said that raising a baby is only a woman’s job. Lots of dads crave the chance to help take care of their new baby.

Don’t deprive your partner from helping you take care of them.

Even at this young age, there is a certain amount of bonding that takes place. Dads make the perfect person to help out if mom wants to take a shower or even get in a short nap. Don't hesitate to lean on your partner.

becoming family fall 2014 

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When to walk away

Having a baby is stressful. It is okay to let your baby lay in the crib, while you take a moment to compose yourself. Take a few breaths, calm down, and get back in there. Everyone needs a breather. You are not going to be any good to your newborn if you are not taking care of yourself.

becoming

BABY

Finding Your Stride

by Cassandra Card

I was a confident pregnant woman. I knew the kind of birth I wanted, I took all the right classes. I studied, I repeated mantras, and I rocked my natural birth.

But as a new mother, I was terrified.

First, I wondered who in the world would let me, with my twentysomething years of debauchery, leave the birthing center with an actual human child. Me, who killed houseplants on a regular basis, who only remembered to feed the dog when he

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brought his dish to me, Snoopy style. I was scared. I was terrified of driving with the maniacs on the roads, who, only weeks ago had angered me with their erratic lane changes, now posed imminent danger to my precious new born. I frequently woke up and checked my daughters breathing, I panicked at gas pains. Although I was confident with my body’s ability to nurture my child, I still wondered if she was eating enough.

becoming

BABY I googled everything with disastrous results. My classes never told me that if your baby gets too much fore milk that they will poop foam. I was never told that I would question every single thing I had once known as true. My smoke detectors worked, right? My baby didn't poop every day, what did that mean? Should she still have her umbilical cord? Milk blisters don't hurt, right Kelly mom?

“I wanted to stay home with

my bundle of joy and

protect her as much as I

could”

I questioned whether my daughter should have toys at a month old or how much tummy time she was getting. Why didn't she like to be swaddled? I was a nervous wreck. I didn't want to go anywhere, I wanted to stay home with my bundle of joy and protect her as much as I could from the scary outside world.

When my mom asked me how I was doing, I couldn't find the words to tell her that my self-assurance went out in the bio-med trash with my placenta (I knew I should have

encapsulated it). I would have to show my mom that I had no idea what I was doing. The jig was up, the pictures had lied, and I really had no business being a mom.

It took about six weeks for me to find my stride. I vividly remember the day I found it. I had gone to the grocery store with my husband and was using my Moby wrap to keep my baby close to me, and let's face it, to protect her from Ebola, Swine Flu germs and collapsing displays. Then, panic! My daughter awoke, and she was hungry. Insistently hungry. My husband calmly told me to feed her, that I could do this. He helped me adjust her in the produce aisle and I watched as she latched on and began nursing. I felt like a boob ninja. I could do this! I could feed my child, I was in control once again, and I was confident. I wanted to tell everyone in the store to look at me.

With my unwashed hair, dark circles under my eyes, and my baby, my perfect baby, nursing contently as I strolled through the aisles. I was a mother.

You will find your stride. If you forget an extra outfit in the diaper bag, it's not the end of the world.

You’ve got this, mom. I promise.

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Etsy Easy

Makes Halloween

This year, instead

of dragging your kids to a large department store to pick out the same generic costume that all the kids on the streets are going to be wearing, why not think outside the box and get something unique! We scoured Etsy.com and found the best costumes for everyone in your family.

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Perfect for your little Queen

Elsa inspired costume

by Cathy Robrock primafashions.com

Perfect for your newborn

Sushi Baby Costume

by Carolyn Caffelle TheWishingElephant.etsy.com

Your Knight in Shining Armor

by Jaime McDonald vintageDuck.etsy.com

©Lindsay Smith

Look for more of our favorite costume ideas a www.pinterest.com/ theexpectingmamas

Your Furry Friend

Crochet Devil Horns

By Lindsey Smith Xmoonbloom.etsy.com becoming family fall 2014 

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Toddler + baby disaster best !

friends!!

Having a baby and raising a toddler doesn’t have to mean disaster! Follow some simple tips to help start your toddler and your newborn down the path to becoming best friends.

becoming

KIDS Introducing a new baby to your toddler can be a daunting task. There is no way to know whether your newly independent toddler will love your newest addition or despise them. Having a toddler offers new and sometimes difficult circumstances. Your toddler is in a tough place between being a baby and being a big boy or girl. Bringing in a new baby can turn their whole world upside down. When introducing your two special people to each other, here are a few things to remember.

Take things slow

By now your toddler has probably learned how to do things on their own. Whether you recognize it or not, they probably think they rule the roost. When you introduce your newborn to your toddler it is important to take things slow.

Some toddlers love their new siblings right away. Whether your toddler is taken with your new addition or not, you are likely to experience some poking and prodding. Babies are fascinating, whether you are 3 or 30. It will take your toddler some time to warm up to your newborn, just make sure you are helping them learn to be gentle.

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Let your toddler help

Getting your toddler involved in taking care of your newborn can be an easy way to help curb their curiosity. Giving them the responsibility of throwing away diapers, fetching a paci or gently rocking your newborn to sleep will help them bond. Right now things may seem difficult, with keeping your toddlers fingers out of your newborns eyes or trying not to let them sit on the baby, but just remember that they are forming a bond that will last a lifetime.

becoming

KIDS

Think, “Baby Steps”

Love your toddler

While you may feel tired, hungry or just plain grumpy, try to imagine what it must be like for your toddler, who is struggling with their own emotions. Not to long ago most of your attention was on them and now you are cooing over another little person. Toddlers don’t understand like older kids do.

Make sure you are still giving them the love they need so they don’t feel left out. Your toddler needs to understand that the new baby will never replace them. They still have a special place in your heart.

Remember to give your toddler extra hugs and kisses and remind them often how important they are.

You may not think they understand or need to hear it, but it is more important than you think.

Being a toddler is tough! By supporting them and holding their hand through this new journey, you can help them to adjust to having a new addition in the family and help them to lean on each other. You set the precedence. Your joy in seeing them play together, even if it is just peek-a-boo, will help the seed of siblinghood grow.

Takes things slow, give your toddler a chance to adjust to the big changes that are happening

becoming family fall 2014 

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Looking for a good read?

‌an utterly unique way to talk about love, all the while giving us a fresh, expansive eye on the world in which we live.

-The NY Times Â

Look out for enticing questions and lively discussions with our exclusive members only

Book Club

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he

lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

September

October

Be late for something Day 5 9-11 Remembrance Day 11 National Crème-filled Donut Day 14 Positive Thinking Day 13 Step Family Day 16 National Women’s Friendship Day 21 Ask a stupid question Day 28

2 Name your car Day 3 World Smile Day 5 Do something nice Day 14 National Desert Day 19 Reevaluate your life Day 25 Make a Difference Day 27 National Tell a Story Day

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” Lucia Capocchione

Come meet new friends at one of our many playdates!

Find out more at

www.TheExpectingMamasNetwork.com

Coffee

Connections

More than just a Mom’s Group, but a place where community and families connect. Â

Meet up with other moms and sit back, drink some coffee, and let the little ones play.

To find out more, visit our calendar of events at www.TheExpectingMamasNetwork.com/calendar

Get your game on

Watch your back

Advertise in our

NEXT EDITION

Contact Us hello@TheExpectingMamasNetwork.com