Cute baby helps save babies!

With our new early alarm clock/daughter, we watch a lot more morning news broadcasts - namely WKYC. So one morning a few weeks back, Mark Nolan tells us about this photogenic baby contest with the proceeds that benefit Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. So we visit the contest website. Everything checks out and we learned that you even get a 9x12 print of the portrait. We'd been dragging our feet/too busy to actually get professional baby shots done. So, what the heck?

We went to the mall early as I expected a lot of families. We were the second group in line. We debated an outfit change but stuck with what she was wearing.

When it was our turn, the photographer set down a blanket an had me sit her on it. Rose wasn't really having any of it. We got a lot of shots that look like this:

Mariella told the photographer that if Rose is standing, she'll smile. So I held Rose in a standing position and she went into Supermodel mode, flashing smile after smile. A small crowd even gathered and started cheering her on.

After the shoot you have to go through all the pictures and select which ones you wish to enter into the contest. There are four categories: Precious (smiling), Beautiful (not smiling), Comical & Stylish. We entered her in the first three. Here are the shots:

Precious

Comical

Beautiful

This is a judged contest. If Rose is named Cleveland's Most Photogenic Baby, she goes on to compete in the national competition and the grand prize is some kind of modeling contract. I don't really care about that part so much. But I will be disappointed if we don't bring home one of these:

That's right, trophies with little golden babies on top - one of the top ten most hilarious things I've ever seen. And I'd like for Rose to win one based on her beauty (or preciousness or comicalness) but there is another way! You see, professional talent scouts will be judging the contest. But there are also trophies for People's Choice. And the public can vote by making a donation to Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. Rose gets one vote for every 50 cents we collect. So whether or not you think my baby is adorable is immaterial, consider clicking the button below to help kids in need (and help an egotistical dad add some hardware to the trophy case!) Seriously, we'd appreciate any support you could give and I promise not to be too crushed, should Rose not win. You can also give (and see the photos of Rose's competition) at Great Northern Mall on August 20 & 21 between 10am & 7pm.

A few disclaimers:

1. Both Mariella and myself are pretty skeezed out by Toddlers in Tiaras and will never become pageant parents. This is as close as it gets.

2. We realize that every parent thinks their child is the most beautiful, but, c'mon! Look at that baby.