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Babies win hearts, awards at strawberry festival contest

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By EMILIE PLANTS

Published: March 10, 2010

PLANT CITY - When 17-month-old Grayce Paige Warner took the stage at the Florida Strawberry Festival baby contest, she was dressed for stardom in a fancy dress with a flower in her hair, sparkling shoes and a flashy purse to match.

The spunk that won her the Prettiest Girl award among 16- to 18-month-olds probably comes naturally. Her mother, Shana Norris Warner, was once a member of the strawberry festival queen's court.

"She loves to dance. She dances to beat of her own drum," said her mom, who paraded the toddler around the stage while dad Garrett and the rest of the family cheered from the stands.

Eighty-seven babies and toddlers competed in the annual contest in such categories as prettiest, biggest eyes and fastest crawler. The Sweetbay Supermarket Showcase Tent was packed for the March 7 contest.

The Decorated Diaper competition gave parents the opportunity to decorate their 6- to-18 month-olds diaper in a theme such as Most Creative, Kids TV Character, Funniest, or this year's festival theme, "Come Celebrate with Us."

Eight-month-old Kaiden Tristan Davis of Plant City was dressed in a top hat and black tie diaper in honor of the festival theme. He took home first prize.

"It was exciting. My mom's the one who made it," said Kourtney Otero, Kaiden's aunt. Her sister, Karlena Pope, was on hand to cheer with family and friends.

"He's bubbly, energetic, and talkative," Otero said.

Heather Thomas, Pam Calloway and Teresa Proctor, who live outside of the area, judged the babies and toddlers as proud moms and dads paraded them around the stage.

Fifteen–month-old Karys Paige Jones's cheering section included dad John, 5-year-old brother Beau, 2-year-old sister Chloe, and a group of family and friends. It was the third year of participation in the baby contest for the family as both Beau and Chloe had taken their own turns on stage.

Mom Jamie paraded her daughter around the stage. The Plant City toddler, dressed like a strawberry, won the Prettiest Girl award in the 13- to 15-month-old age group.

"She is just a happy baby. She doesn't ever have a bad moment," Jamie said.

Mom Tiger Jimenez, of Plant City, said her son Carson, who was selected as the Most Handsome Boy in the 6- to 9-month-old category, also has a good disposition.

"He is all smiles and an eater," she said.

The contest was a first for parents Larry and Tiger, who said it was a great day.

"He loved it! Our first win!" she said.

Contest chairwoman Kristi Dean said the judges did a good job selecting the winners. Dean said she's never seen so many entries for Prettiest Girl in the 6- to 9-month-old category.

Twenty-six babies sought the title, which was given to Emma Grace Wetherington of Dover.

"I'm gonna put her in more pageants," her mom, Amy Wetherington said.

Wetherington and her husband, Jason, said they couldn't have been more proud of their blue-eyed, blue gowned baby who was all smiles for the judges.

The baby contest drew fewer entries than the typical field of 125, Dean said. But she added that crawl contest at the end of the evening was the "best diaper derby to date."

Seventh-month-old Keegan Ray Barbee-Rangel, of Plant City, the winner in the 6- to 8-month-old category, and Traiten Duke Costello, of Riverview, winner among 9- to 12-month-olds, competed to see who could out crawl the other.

The race was a dead heat until Keegan pulled away for the win.

"He just started crawling two weeks ago," said Keegan's mother Karen. "His family is so proud."

Baby Contest Winners

Come Celebrate With Us theme: Kaiden Tristan Davis

Funniest Diaper: Carson Rhett Hattaway

Kids TV Cartoon Character: Caitlyn Brianne Hartley

Most Creative Diaper: Brayden Chase Thompson

Prettiest Girl 6- to 9-month-olds: Emma Grace Wetherington

Prettiest Girl 10- to 12-month-olds: Georgia Peyton Pippin

Prettiest Girl 13- to 15-month-olds: Karys Paige Jones

Prettiest Girl 16- to 18-month-olds: Grayce Paige Warner

Most Handsome Boy 6- to 9-month-olds: Carson Bear Jimenez

Most Handsome Boy 10- to 12-month-olds: Traiten Duke Costello

Most Handsome Boy 13- to 15-month-olds: Ayden Suarez

Chubbiest Cheeks: Joshua Lee Bahr

Biggest Eyes: David Arin Riddle

Baldest Head: Bryson Trace Cochrane

Most Hair: Keegan Ray Barbee-Rangel

Look Alike Twins: Reagan Rae and Piper Roe Simmons

Diaper Derby 6- to 8-month-olds: Keegan Ray Barbee-Rangel

Diaper Derby 9- to 12-month-olds: Traiten Duke Costello

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