Winner winner!

About a month ago, Jake sent me a screenshot from Facebook about the baby contest that was happening for Pony Express Days. I told him I didn't really believe in baby contests and didn't want to do it.  While that is true, more importantly I was scared about her losing and didn't want to subject her to that since there's more to life than "being cute". However, a few weeks later my sister Lauryl told me that there wasn't enough contestants so there'd be pretty slim competition. I decided to enter her even if she lost because it would be a good opportunity {for later, since she's too little right now!} that even if you lose you should still try things.  You can still learn things and the fear of losing shouldn't prevent you from trying.

I was a little stressed about the event leading up to it but that morning I prayed I would just have fun with her and not be worried about it. I picked out a cute patriotic outfit she already had and did her hair in her normal cute way. I didn't want to do anything different from normal because I think she's as beautiful as can be just the way she is - she doesn't need fancy clothes or crazy up do's or make up to make her pretty.

Standing up all by herself for the picture! 

Love her little grin

We got there around 10:30, thinking it would be best to go at the beginning of the judging window (10:00 - 1:00) and turns out that was a good thing - because they didn't have many contestants they ended up doing all the judging and announcing everything in the first hour!

When it was our turn, I went back with her and the Miss Eagle Mountain royalty to the judges.  I stood her up on table and she stood by herself almost the whole time.  She said hi once or twice and was smiling and waving and just jabbering away in her little voice. The judges kept complimenting her hair and laughing as she kept trying to reach for Miss Eagle Mountain's crown and sash. When we left, one of my old young women Ella {who happens to be Miss Eagle Mountain} told me Kaycee was the only one who had talked so far! I was proud of Kaycee for not being shy even around strangers!

We came out and waited for the results.  They came out and read them and Kaycee won her age group! There wasn't a lot of contestants but there were other contestants in her age that she still beat! I was so proud of her! She won a beautiful Elsa dress up dress for her baby doll, a cardboard book of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and a $150.00 gift certificate to get her pictures taken by a photographer in Eagle Mountain! I was so excited!

We went back to our seats and were getting ready to go when they announced there were overall winners.  The categories were best eyes, best smile, best personality, best hair and best outfit.  Not going to lie, I immediately started running the categories through my head trying to think of which one she could win.  She hadn't been super smiley so I wasn't holding my breath there but she had talked a ton so maybe best personality?

They said her name for best personality and I was pretty dang excited. As we walked up to get her award {with her clapping for herself in my arms}, they also announced she won best hair too! I was so flattered and excited! She won 2 additional $150.00 gift certificates to get her picture taken, adding up to $450.00 worth of photos - for free!! As they read the remaining contestant winners she clapped for everyone and just was smiling away. Even though she didn't understand I was proud of her for clapping when she heard everyone else doing it and picking up on that social cue.

I was so excited for her I could barely suppress my grin.  Of all the contestants, no one else won 3 categories! It may have been my imagination but I felt like I had some moms giving me the stink eye as we walked to the car. I buckled her up and immediately handed her the new book she won - she loves to read and she contentedly read her book the rest of the way home.

When we got home I got her Elsa dress out and put it on her baby doll. That doll is now her favorite of her 3 babies and she carries her Elsa everywhere!

So proud of her!! 

A few minutes later I saw on a Facebook yard sale page a $5.00 Winnie the Pooh kids chair. She had a hard time in Nursery getting up and down from the chair because she doesn't have anything that size at home to practice on so I got it for her - every princess needs a throne right? 

Reading a different book in her throne

I am very proud of her for how well she behaved at the judging, how happy she was during the results and that she clapped for others and of course I'm proud of her for winning.  I'm also glad that I got over my fear of her not winning and that we tried it anyway.  I'm sure it would have still been a good experience had she not won but it sure helps that she did win!

Way to go babe, mom and dad think you're just the cutest little girl in the whole universe!