WEBSITE!

I know this isn't a big deal but I'm super excited about.  I bought a domain and found a host site for my photography website!  Now, all you have to type is:

www.kellyallenphotography.com

not: www.kellyallenphotography.sqaurespace.com to get to my website!!! You should check it out!

Lately with Leon...

 I decided to organize my craft/art closet...Leon liked the yarn.

I promise he is just making this face - he isn't actually choking!

Leon also got his first hair cut this month.  This is before his haircut.  He was definetly ready for one. 

This is his "stop chasing me around with that stupid camera" face.  You think he'd be used to it by now - nope.

Look at all that hair. Oh, and the curls!

Sorry - I don't have any really good after shots of his hair. The next ones will have to work.

Oh, Leon also decided it was time to try walking!  Crazy, huh?  He hasn't totally mastered it, but he'll take a few steps. 

We found him alseep with his head in his Hawaiian Frog's lap.  I say he is hawaiian, because he actually IS from Hawaii. 

 Isn't this precious?

I love Leon.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

I love homemade pizza!  I love fresh ingredients and putting it together yourself.  I also love it because Leon loves pizza which is a HUGE bonus.  Here is my yummy, super simple recipe for BBQ Pizza which we had for dinner last night.

You can either make a whole pizza or two personalize size pizzas, like I did -  one for me and one for Kyle...we shared with Leon.

Ingredients:

1 box jiffy pizza crest mix (or your own pizza dough)
3-6 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce (quanity depends on how much you like)
2 cups of mozeralla cheese
1 chicken breast, seaoned, baked or grilled, cut into cubes
About 1/4 cup of chopped red onion
Basil Leaves

Prepare you pizza dough according to instructions.  Top with BBQ sauce and then mozeralla cheese.  Top the rest of the ingredients according to how you prefer.  Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.  Enjoy!

Getting Fit

Leon and I have been doing this new mommy and toddler fitness video together in the morning.  I've been a very fortunate lady as far as post partum weight goes - I lost a ton of weight just by simply breastfeeding and somehow am still managing to keep most of it off.  However, I thought after a year and a half of doing pretty much nothing physical, it was time to start getting healthy and in shape.  Leon absolutely loves it and so do I.  I completely forgot how good those endorphins are for your happiness!  Today, when Leon and I did this, he pretty much was in the best mood he's been in for a long, long time.  I love it.  He was so worn out from this morning that before I was going to put him down for a nap he actually just fell asleep on me while we were watching TV.  I've been in a much better mood and the days are going so much smoother.  YAY!!!!

Well...I'm off to do something productive.  Booo.  Maybe I'll find something productive and fun???  Maybe.

I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Sledding

Kyle had been wanting to take our little one-year-old out sledding since the very first snow.   I just rolled my eyes at the thought and told Kyle he was just too little and it was just too cold out.  Well, on Saturday while I was out on a portrait shoot, Kyle took him sledding!  When I got home, they just had to show me.  I love Leon's mixed expressions in these pics!

PS...don't forget to check out my photo blog to see recent portraits and art work!!!!!

My Easy Buffalo Wing Recipe

The best part about the Super Bowl for me is the yummy party food.  I LOVE party food...chips and dip, potatoe skins, shrimp, veggie trays, mozeralla sticks, buffalo wings.  I LOVE anything with buffalo sauce on it.  Maybe I get that from being from a family of all boys?  Anway, yesterday I made some wings for Kyle and I while we watched (well, he watched and I read) the super bowl.  I thought I'd share of easy buffalo wing recipe with you all. 

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
2-4 lbs of chicken wings (I buy the big bag of frozen wings)
1 bottle of Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
1 Stick of Margine or Butter (I never said that these were healthy wings)
1/2 - 1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Seasoning.
Blue cheese and/or ranch dressing (optional)

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a cookie sheet (one with raised edges) with cooking spray.  In a medium sauce pan, heat the bottle of Franks Sauce and the butter until the butter is melted.  Doing a few wings at a time, coat all the wings in the sauce and arrange them on your cookie sheet.  Bake for about 15 minutes and then baste the wings in your butter-buffalo sauce.  Baste your wings about every 5-10 minutes for the next 20-30 minutes.  When your wings are just about done, then sprinkle some of the Ranch Dip Seasoning over the wings and bake for about 5 more minutes.  Let cool a little and enjoy!

The times may be a little off...I just kind of do things as I go. 

I'm bummed the Colts didn't win but am happy for New Orleans.  I'm hoping, like everybody else, that their win will help the city to thrive after all they've been through.

Mommy Woes

I had big plans for today.  However, nothings getting done and here I am writing on my blog.  I'm not sure where to begin with all these mixed feeling I'm having.  I guess I'm a little overwhelmed.  I should probably just forget those big plans and do something I just WANT to do, but I know those big plans will be waiting for me when I'm done.  I think I expect a little too much from myself.  However, I just can't help it.

My little boy won't eat.  It's driving me crazy.  I offered him some oatmeal with his favorite fruit puree in it.  He wouldn't eat it (even though he would last night).  So I later offered him a banana.  He wouldn't eat it.  He did eat a small handful of cheerios.  Why, oh why, won't he just eat something?

My little boy busted his lip pretty good this morning (he slipped and landed on a toy).  There were lots of tears and even a little bit of blood.  Now it's all swollen and big.  Did I mention the morning was going REALLY, really well up to that point?  It's been whining, tears, and lots of holding since then.

I'm really tired of being patient.  I want my kitchen trim painted so I don't have to do it.  I want one room in our house to be completely "done".   I want time to shoot some more art work.  I miss it.  I want it to be 65 degrees outside so I can get some fresh air.

Do things get easier?  I want to have another kid, but I feel like I can't handle the one I have right now.  Well - it's not that I can't handle him - I can't handle myself.  Do you ever stop doubting yourself and your mommy abilities?  Do you ever get time for yourself?  How are you supposed to take care of yourself first when its hard to even get a shower in?  How many kids am I really expected to have?  I don't know if I want to hear any honest answers right now.  I just want to hear "Everything will be okay.  Things are 10 times easier the second time around.  Leon will start doing everything you want him to do.  Just give it a little time - you know - like a week or so. "  I have a pretty good feeling that isn't the case, but I want it SOO badly right now.

So sorry to burden you with all my mommy woes, but I don't know where else to go but this life-saving blog sometimes.  I hate complaining - I hate myself when I am being ungrateful, but sometimes I just can't keep it bottled up inside.  I'm not looking for any "poor Kelly" comments.  AND I want everyone to know I love my baby and I love my mommyhood.  I just need to let it out.  Let it all out.

A year in the making

Yesterday was Leon's birthday.  Honestly, it was kind of a miserable day for us.  Leon has an ear infection and is cutting teeth, so most of the day was sent with him whining and, at times, crying while I tried to entertain and play with him.   Leon wouldn't let me leave him whenever I tried to put him down with a for his nap so I took the oppurtunity to take a nap with him - something we haven't done since he was 6 months old.  It was my favorite part of the day.  I just stared at my 1 year old for two hours in total awe while he slept.  The last year has gone so fast.  Thinking about it breaks my heart.  I love this little boy.  He has taught me so much about what it is to love.   Greatfully, I think he really liked having me there when he woke up because the rest of the day went a little better (well, expect for when I tripped on one of Leon's toys, fell, and thought I had broken my leg for a moment.  As I was crying, Leon thought I was playing and was laughing hestirically at me - which was kind of funny when it was all done and over with.  I've got a HUGE bruise on my knee and it really, really hurts). 

Here are some of my favorite photos I've taken of Leon over the last year:

At the hospital, 2 days old.

2 weeks old

His funny personality is coming very evident in this photo.  It's one of my all time fav's.

For the longest time, he was obessed with his feet.

He had just started to sit up in this photo.

The stinker is trying to get my camera.  LOVE this pic.

Leon LOVES taking baths.

I do think he is SO cool.

One year old!  Love that 3 teeth (almost 4) grin.

Eating his birthday cake at his birthday party - and thinking it's pretty yummy.  More of these are on their way.

I'm so grateful this little sweet heart picked me to be his mommy.  I love him , I love him, I love him.