Mokena Toddler Vying For $25,000 Baby Of The Year Title, Spotlight In National Ad Campaign

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena toddler is in the running for a Baby of the Year title, a $25,000 prize and a starring spot in a national ad campaign.

Celebrity Jessica Alba's Colossal Baby of the Year contest seeks to shine the spotlight on one lucky baby in a national ad campaign with The Honest Company. The chosen tot will also receive a $25,000 prize and be celebrated in the pages of Variety Magazine. Alba is an ambassador for the contest, along with Paris Hilton and Jenna Dewan.

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River Nebel, 1, is currently ranked 3rd in her group, with this round of voting set to end Oct. 8. She needs to finish top in her group to advance to the next round. You can vote for her here.

River's mom Tina said she was thrilled to see her baby advance out of the top 40 and into the current round, with hopes the community's support can send her through to the next.

"People were asking for daily reminders to vote," Nebel said. "It's been so fun either way, just to have family and friends rally around her and support her."

Supporters can cast one free daily vote every 24 hours, or make a donation to cast multiple. Funds raised help raise critical support for Baby2Baby, a national non-profit providing diapers, formula, clothing, and basic necessities to children in need across all 50 states. Over its first two years, the competition generated more than $45 million in grants for Baby2Baby.

"River is ALWAYS smiling and giggling," her mother Tina Nebel told Patch. "Every time someone meets her, the first thing they comment on is her long, beautiful lashes. The next thing they comment on is how good of a baby she is! She really goes with the flow, so it is perfect that her name is River."

River loves crawling, sitting and standing, "anywhere she has a front row seat to her favorite entertainment (her 2 big sisters Willow, 7, and Eden, 5).

She gets excited every time music comes on and "loves to bop along to anything with a good beat," according to her profile for the competition. She loves being held by her mommy and "since she is such a happy baby, Mommy happily takes her everywhere with her!"

She also adores her Irish Wolfhound puppy, Merlin, who has quickly outgrown her.

In describing River, Nebel points out her luscious eyelashes as remarkable.

"She has the longest lashes," Nebel said. "She's so tiny, I swear all her growth goes to her eyelashes."

River was born to Nebel and husband Kurt. She's the family's third girl, and Nebel has noticed she seems to be taking her time growing. But Nebel's not in a rush.

"You take your time, girlfriend," she said. "We're going with the flow here."

River's older sisters adore her, Nebel said.

"She has the best temperament," she said. "Willow and Eden are literally her biggest fans. They're so supportive of her."

Nebel said with three girls, the family would likely put the prize money toward a larger vehicle.

"... right now our current car's bench seat is maxed out with a random combination of carseats," she said. "Once she is out of the infant carrier, we may be in trouble."

Vote for River here! This round of voting ends Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. Central. River needs to finish #1 in her group to advance to the quarterfinals.