Toddler named 'Cutest Kid in America'

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - Leah Matthiessen is a healthy, curious and carefree toddler, but there is something that does set Leah apart from other kids.

Leah is the "Cutest Kid in America", at least according to one charity organization that is using her image after she won a photo contest.

"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" is a charity that goes into hospitals and takes photos of children with life threatening illnesses with their families to provide lasting memories.

Punta Gorda, Fla., resident Kathy Wynn is the photographer that took the winning photograph.

Little Leah beat out 2,000 entries.

Wynn says that Leah is the easiest subject she's ever worked with.

Leah's mother Angie says that ever since Leah was born she's always been in front of the camera and loves it.

As for Kathy, she will continue to snap shots of Leah and will enter her into next year's contest.

NILMDTS was founded in Colorado in 2005 by professional photographer Sandy Puc' and mother Cheryl Haggard.

When the economy started to tank last year, Puc' was heading out on a 50-city tour to teach improved techniques to other professional photographers.

By launching a the nationwide competition and spreading the word while on tour, she was able to provide an incentive for consumers to provide business to those same students she met who were expressing challenging times, while additionally raising more than six figures for the foundation to provide improved training and other programs for the photographers who give their time, talent and gift of portraiture to families in need, for free.