***Moody Mamas SURPRISE GIVEAWAY***

{CLOSED} Congrats to Brittany D. for winning!

Moody Mamas GIVEAWAY

I am super excited to announce a SURPRISE Giveaway and a stellar DISCOUNT from the fabulous and ultra chic maternity line,

Moody Mamas! 

Did you know it was possible to look totally hot while pregnant--because I didn't!

ENTER Moody Mamas: a maternity line I wish I would have been clued into when I was preggers!

Moody Mamas full line of designer maternity apparel completely

"takes the frump outta the bump"

How incredibly adorable is this dress?

I LOVE that they design clothes I even want to wear when I am not preggo.

And guess what's even better...

Now we don't have to break the bank to wear the same styles adorned by hot Hollywood mamas that include Heidi Klum, Jessica Alba, Tori Spelling and Bethenny Frankel--because Moody Mamas has launched a designer line available through Target!

Yep, you heard me right--TARGET! Don't you just love them?!

Check out some of my favorite styles from their chic and {dare I say it} SEXY Spring collection:

Maxi Dress in Teal $44.99

Flounce Neck Dress in Berry $39.99

In the words of Moody Mamas:

Each piece is inspired by the runway, from easy maxi dresses to adorable chiffon trim knit dresses. All of our styles are made from luxurious fabrics that give every Moody Mamas piece the feel of relaxing lounge wear. Start expanding your spring wardrobe today! The collection is limited in quantity, affordably priced from $39.99 - $49.99, and extends into plus sizes. To shop the collection, click here to visit Target.

In the words of ME:

Do you want to own a Spring wardrobe that is stylish, affordable AND super comfy--YES please!

Now on to the GIVEAWAY:

In honor of their capsule collection with Target, Moody Mamas is offering one lucky winner a darling rhinestone studded "It's a Boy" or "It's a Girl" tank valued at $39 from Moody Mamas.

{{{How cute are these}}}

And that's not all--they are also giving all LMM readers a discount code (MMDiscount) to receive 30% off on their site.

Not pregnant? No worries, you may be soon, or you may even know someone who is--and what better gift than this super cute tank?!

Ready to ENTER to WIN?

Here's how

Giveaway Guidelines:

MANDATORY: Visit the Moody Mamas Target collection and leave a comment here on two or three of your favorite pieces. This is a mandatory first entry.


 After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):


Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter


Fan Moody Mamas on Facebook


Become a public blog follower of Little Miss Momma
{click follow on left sidebar}


Fan Little Miss Momma on Facebook


Grab a Little Miss Momma button for your blog
{see left sidebar for html code}


Blog about this contest
 
This giveaway will end June 2, 2010 at midnight {mst}
 
*Because I am hosting multiple giveaways at once {for the readers I love to infinity and beyond}, I will be running some of these giveaways for 2 weeks {rather than the standard one week} in order to be fair to my sponsors.  Thanks for being patient to find out if you win all this awesomeness!*

I Hate Needles

I hate needles...

...and today I was reminded why.

It all began when I was about 4 years old and I had a severe allergic reaction, requiring me to receive multiple steroid shots at once. I remember this incident like it was yesterday; sobbing my eyes out as my mom promised we could go to Toys R Us as soon as we left the doctors office.

In the years that followed, every time I was required to get a shot of any kind, tears would immediately fill my eyes. The needle some how pressed this invisible button on my body that triggered an emotional sob fest and the need for a hug from my mommy.

When I got pregnant, Mr. B came with me to the doctors office to provide moral support as they drew my blood to run the standard preggo tests...imagine my surprise when I didn't even get the chance to cry because Mr. B passed out cold on the floor as soon as the needle entered my vein {what a sweet heart}!

The day Wesley was born I had to be hooked up to an IV--a process I was not looking forward to, and with good reason. Here is a picture of Mr. B and me just before they attempted to put the IV in:

How happy I am?! {and yes, I realize I was HUGE}

And here is a picture of me after 3 nurses attempted and FAILED to put in my IV (failed miserably and painfully, might I add):

How priceless is that look on my face? And can you see the cotton ball on my left arm? Yet the IV is in my right arm? Strange, right. That's because the first three butchered attempts were on my left arm before they moved on to my right arm.

{I would get an IV any day as long as this pure joy was the outcome}

And this brings us to my devastating experience today:

Mr. B has a rare blood disorder that Lil W has a 50% chance of inheriting. And today was the day we had to take him in for the blood work (which would be done with needles, of course). This would be the first time they would draw blood from my Little Man with a needle (usually they would make a small incision on his heel). I was lucky enough to have Mr. B with me for what would be the hardest thing I have had to do as a mother as of yet.

Just like my IV experience, this nurse was unable to get a steady flow the first time she put the needle in my little 8 month old's tiny little arm. The rather large needle stayed in his arm as she jiggled and jostled it around in hopes of stimulating blood flow. No such luck. And meanwhile, my little guy was letting out the most piercing and heart wrenching shrieks and sobs you could imagine. I had never heard him cry like this before. I felt my throat swell up as the tears dripped from his chin. As the nurse pulled out the needle and told me we would have to try again on the other arm, I almost threw up right there. How could I let him go through this again?

I held back the tears as she switched arms and W began to sob in pain again. By the time she filled the entire vile, his crying had turned into hyperventilating sobs. I quickly wrapped him in my arms and promised him everything would be okay. I walked out of the doctors office with many looks of sympathy from those in the waiting room. At this point I had still managed to fight off the tears.

As soon as we exited the hospital, the tears began to flow--I couldn't hold them back any longer. Every tear from every needle that had ever entered my arm could not compare to how I felt for what my son had just been forced to endure.

Neither Mr. B nor I said a single word the whole way home. As I sat there in silence I was filled with emotion as I thought of other moms out there who have to deal with needles--of other moms who have to hold the hands of their little ones as they get stitched up after their first accident--of other moms who stay up all night to hear the breathing of their sick child--of other moms who take their precious kiddos to get blood drawn, receive MRI's, CT scans and Chemo on a daily basis--of moms who have to say goodbye to a little one too soon.

My heart was filled with sorrow and love as I thought of these moms. I thought of how much stronger and how much braver you are than me, of how much I have to learn from you, of how much I admire what you do!

So to all you moms out there: what you do matters, and thanks for what you do!

Here is Little W when we got home. What a trooper!

love, ashley