On a typical afternoon in October I arrived home to an urgent message from my sister-in-law: "Have you heard about the Baby Gap photo contest? You HAVE to enter Sarah!" As one who takes an active interest in photography I decided to look into the contest but was dismayed when I checked the website and realized that it wasn't entirely a photography competition, it definitely had an element of show-us-how-cute-your-baby-is. I decided this would break my mommy rule #387, "never seek to become a show-mom", and called my sister-in-law back with my regrets.

After several more emails and messages from friends and family about the same contest, I decided to look into it again. This time I went a step further and checked out some of the other entries on the Kodak gallery page. In a moment of weakness I opened up Sarah's 12-month picture file on our computer and sent a few in. Couldn't hurt, right?

Needless to say, I was beyond shocked when I double-clicked an email early in November to find the following opening paragraph:

" Congratulations! Your child has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2007 baby Gap Casting Call Photo Contest, administered by ePrize. More than 350,000 children across the country entered the contest and we are so thrilled to let you know that your child has been chosen as one of the 20 semifinalists!"

With shaky fingers I dialed my husband at work and tried to read it to him, pausing for deep breaths with every other word. Two realizations quickly came down on me: 1) apparently someone else thinks she's as cute as I do 2) the whole world will now know that I've broken mommy rule #387. Oh what to do?

Well, one month and several phone calls, emails, and friendly jokes later we're now full swing into the 2007 Baby Gap Casting Call voting. We've pulled out all the stops gathering votes for our little one and we're anxiously awaiting December 31st when the voting ends and the counting begins (my husband jokes he's got several attorneys on retainer just in case a recall becomes necessary!). It's certainly all in good fun but we hope our Tri-Lakes community will consider joining us in voting for Sarah. You can vote once a day until December 31st.Check her out at www.kodak.eprize.net. You'll be able to spot her right away...just look for the cutest one there (also known as the baby in the pink toboggan hat!).

- Erin Cobb