The Sunny Side of the Street

Sneak Peek of Nursery

2010-09-21T21:55:00.080-04:00

The nursery is ready for Anna's arrival.

My husband and I own a condo in Ohio and are renting a townhouse in Pennsylvania. We don't know how long we'll be living in the townhouse. Therefore, we didn't want to do anything permanent to the walls of Anna's nursery, but I didn't want to leave them plain white.

I was so happy when I found a border at Pottery Barn Kids that's actually a decal. It went on the walls easily and peels right off. I used a couple gift certificates I got from my shower to purchase the border and just love it!

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Scott's dad and Jan purchased the furniture for Anna's nursery, which was so generous.

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The Decor

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Anna's Accessories

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Three Very Special Gifts

Anna's great-grandmother Jessie Gaudet made this blanket.

Anna's great-great-aunt Helen Miller made this quilt.

Anna's great-aunt Mary Jo Marchek made this blanket.

Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Jimmy Buffet

2010-08-31T05:12:00.036-04:00

Rehoboth Beach, De

(I threw a sweatshirt over my swimsuit and someone told me I look like a cheerleader with a baby on the way. (I'm about 33 weeks pregnant in this photo.))

(The Jolly Trolley)

Rehoboth Beach is all about sand, surf, shopping

family, friends, fun and FOOD!

(Seafood bisque from Jake's in Rehoboth is the best. I got it multiple times this year. However, this cream of crab from a restaurant in Lewes gives Jake's bisque a run for its money.)

(Fried Chicken from Gus and Gus on the boardwalk)

(I worked at Grotto on the boardwalk with friends 12 years ago -- the summer after my freshman year in college.)

Antiquing in Lewes, De

The Beach

(There's nothing more relaxing than the ocean.)

Tailgate Party Before Jimmy Buffet Concert

(It was such a hot day!)

(Cheeseburger and Paradise)

("I like mine with lettuce and tomato")

(Unfortunately, my camera stopped working our first day in Rehoboth; therefore, these are all cell phone pics, which didn't turn out too horrible considering they came from my phone. I'm just glad I had something to take photos with!)

Our New Jersey Baby Shower

2010-08-02T20:49:00.008-04:00

I had a second lovely baby shower in New Jersey given by my in-laws. I can't thank them enough. It was a wonderful surprise for me. My husband knew, but did a good job keeping the secret. We had great time and got great stuff for our little bundle of joy, who is due next month!

The Surprise

The Cake

The Gifts

Our Ohio Baby Shower

2010-07-29T15:03:00.027-04:00

I can't thank my mom enough for putting together such a lovely baby shower. It was great to see my family and friends, who were beyond generous with their gifts for "Baby Girl."

Getting Ready for the Shower

The Shower

After the Shower

Family Fun in Ohio

2010-07-28T21:57:00.000-04:00

We're Having a Girl!

2010-05-04T18:12:00.003-04:00

Baby Girl Winot

A Year in Review

2010-04-30T11:06:00.037-04:00

Scott proposed in August, but it was around this time last year he said he wanted to marry me and I said I wanted to marry him. We got engaged in August, got married in October and found out we were having a baby in January. What a difference a year makes!

Below are some photo highlights from the past year:

May 2009

Put in Bay
South Bass Island, Ohio

June 2009

Women's Empowerment Board

My Sister's Keeper Tea
Cleveland, Ohio

Lakeside

Marblehead, Ohio

July 2009

Girls Getaway

New York City and Nashville

NYC

Nashville

August 2009

The Proposal

Scott Proposes to Me!

Breinigsville, Pennsylvania

Beach Boys Concert

Cleveland, Ohio

September 2009

Final Evening at Fox 8

Cleveland, Ohio

MORE MONTHS AND PHOTOS TO COME....

Baby Briefing -- 19 Weeks

2010-04-28T05:39:00.004-04:00

DID I FEEL A KICK?

Did I just feel the baby kick? I'm 19 weeks pregnant today, which means it's very possible for me to feel Baby Winot moving.

My doctor said experienced pregnant women start feeling the baby move as early as 16 weeks, but women who are pregnant for the first time may not feel the baby until 20 to 22 weeks. Mainly because new moms don't know what to look for.

Early baby kicks feel like small butterfly flutters from inside your stomach. First-time pregnant women think it's indigestion.

I have felt small butterfly flutters for the past week. I think it's our baby saying hello or maybe telling mommy to stop singing. Baby Winot can clearly hear my voice now, which may not be such a good thing when I'm singing. Poor dear!

Baby Winot is about 8 ounces this week. I can't wait until next week when we get to see a detailed ultrasound and find out whether our little one is a boy or a girl. (Vote in the poll on the right hand side of this page for your guess.)

Women's Alliance Spring Trip

2010-04-28T00:38:00.017-04:00

The Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena

Women's Alliance

Spring Day Trip

4/24/10

I joined the ladies at our church this past weekend for a lovely day of touring historic homes on the Delaware River. The weather was perfect. Meteorologists predicted an all-day rain earlier in the week, but the rain held off until evening.

There were at least 50 women on the trip. Being a new member of the parish, I signed up for the trip not knowing one person, but I'm glad I did. I met a lot of great women of all ages.

Our first stop was the Grundy Mansion, situated on the banks of the Delaware River in Bristol, Pa.

Joseph R. Grundy, the owner of the home, was a successful businessman, who eventually served in the United States Senate. He lived a long life, but never married.

Grundy was born in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln was president and died in 1961 when John F. Kennedy was president. He established The Grundy Foundation in his last will and testament and directed that his home become a museum.

Every item in the home is from the Victorian era and belonged to the Grundy family (the senator, his mom, dad and sister).

However, Grundy wasn't the original owner. The home was built in the early 1800s and the Grundy family didn't buy it until the late 1800s.

The original owner was a ship captain, which is obvious by some of the architecture. The inside of the home resembles a cruise ship and reminds me of the Titanic.

I love Grundy's sister's room, complete with her dance card, makeup case, dresses and fainting couch, for when her corset was tied too tight. I also enjoyed looking at the family's assortment of beautiful dishes in the dining room.

Once we finished our tour of the Grundy mansion and grounds, we headed to the King George II Inn (pictured to the right). I sat and enjoyed lunch with five terrific ladies. We started with a salad of mixed greens and crusty bread (I ate about six pieces). I had lemon chicken, red skin mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley for my entree and we all had ice cream for dessert.

Our final stop was Pennsbury Manor, the home of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. The home, originally built in 1683, is located on the banks of the Delaware River in Morrisville, PA.

William Penn's story is interesting. According to our tour guide, Penn had a good relationship with the Indians because -- although King Charles II of England granted him the land we now call Pennsylvania -- he wouldn't claim it as his own without giving the Indians something for it.

I had such a nice day, but realized I was coming down with something when we were at Pennsbury Manor. My throat became very sore and I was suddenly exhausted. I couldn't keep my eyes open on the bus ride home.

When I got home I went straight to bed. I was so glad Kitty was back home to cuddle with while sick, especially since Scott was in Chicago for his oral board exam.

I woke up the next morning with a horrible cold, and Kitty had watery eyes and was sneezing as well. I'm still not feeling up to par, but I'm getting better and so is Kitty.

Kitty is Home!!!

2010-04-22T20:50:00.005-04:00

Searching for Kitty became a full time job. It was one of my fliers that helped get our little guy back home.

A woman in our neighborhood called around 7 p.m. Thursday night and said she just saw one of my fliers and Kitty was on her deck. He showed up a few days ago and she had been feeding him ever since.

I rushed over to her house and there Kitty was sitting on the woman’s two-story deck in a cushioned chair under an umbrella. He looked like he was on vacation. All he needed was a tropical drink.

I had been worried sick about my pampered pet, but there he was in the lap of luxury. I wondered if he would want to come home, but the woman said Kitty would hiss each time she approached him. However, he came straight to me, nuzzled against my neck and started purring.

I am so glad the search is over and Kitty is home.

Baby 'Kitty' is Missing

2010-04-20T14:06:00.037-04:00

My cat Woollybear, who I call "Kitty," is missing and I feel terrible. He's an indoor cat and extremely timid outdoors.

He's gone out the back door before, but always runs back inside when we call him. He managed to sneak out once, without us noticing, but when we quickly realized that out extremely affectionate cat -- who always has to be cuddling -- was gone, we opened the back door and there he was.

Scott and I went out for a late dinner last night. We were exhausted when we got home. Scott's sleep schedule was off after working overnights in the ER (11p.m. until 8 a.m.) and I have been feeling nauseous and tired from being pregnant. I went straight to bed when we got home, but noticed first thing in the morning something wasn't right. Kitty didn't wake me up once last night trying to cuddle.

Scott and I searched the entire house, but no Kitty. Some how he must have got out the front door when we came in last night. We searched outside, but no Kitty. Then, Scott drove me around the neighborhood looking for Kitty, but no luck. We stopped at the clubhouse to see if anyone reported finding a cat, but no one had.

So, we came home and I made fliers. I delivered one to each of our neighbors, I posted one at the clubhouse gym and the clubhouse manager said she would send the flier out in an e-mail blast to the entire community.

I ran into some sympathetic neighbors who said they will keep an eye open for the little guy. I can't imagine he would go far being so timid. Did someone pick him up this morning before work?

I just want him to be safe. It would be difficult for him to protect himself outdoors without front claws, but then again he's a survivor.

Fox 8 Meteorologist Dick Goddard found him in the middle of I-90, an extremely busy interstate, when he was too young to be away from his mother. Goddard brought him into the newsroom and asked if I wanted him. I never had a cat before and was a little hesitant at first, but I couldn't resist that little face. I took him home and fell in love with him.

That was almost four years ago and he's been by my side ever since. He has moved three times with me. He's the perfect little companion.

Our pug seems lost today without Kitty to chase around and play with. Scott took the photo on the left of Mr. Pugsley and Kitty on me while I napped. Kitty always wants to be near my face. I miss his adorable kitty face.

The photo below was taken during Kitty's photo shoot for Goddard's annual Fox 8 Weather Calendar. In fact, my cat was named after Goddard's annual Woollybear Festival.

Goddard found him the Friday before the Woollybear Festival, so we named him Woollybear. His official name is Woollybear Miller-Goddard (Miller is my maiden name).

When Kitty got a little bigger I brought him back into the newsroom to visit Goddard (pictured below).

This may sound crazy, but we even had a first birthday party for Kitty at my parents' house. My family, Goddard and some other friends from Fox 8 came. The guests even brought gifts (which I didn't expect). I think Kitty's birthday was just a good excuse to throw a party, but he got a lot of nice stuff and everyone had a blast.

I have to say the food and wine at the party were spectacular.

(Good job Mama Miller!)

Below are photos of Kitty at my apartment in Lakewood, Ohio. I loved my claw-foot tub and so did he!

I love his big eyes.

Below are photos from the Woollybear Festival, for which my cat was named.

Woollybear Fest 2007

(Goddard found Kitty just a couple days before this photo was taken.)

Woollybear Fest 2008

Woollybear Fest 2009

(We don't plan on attending Woollybear Fest 2010. It's always held near the end of September and Baby Winot is due September 22.)

I was rather calm when we realized Kitty was missing. I try not to get too upset about things while I'm pregnant. It's not great for the baby when mama is upset. I didn't get choked up until I started writing this and then I took a break and called my mom to tell her and it was like Niagara Falls coming down my cheeks.

I left food, water and cat toys outside our house. Maybe Kitty will just wander back home. Cats are known to do that. Our next step will be to call local animal shelters to see if anyone has dropped him off.

I really hope we find him soon. He is truly a very special cat.

6-Year-Old Carter Kettner Needs Your Prayers

2010-04-18T17:50:00.000-04:00

Six-year-old Carter Kettner, the son of my friends Cinnamon and Joe Kettner, has been fighting a massive inoperable malignant brain tumor for more than a year. The entire family -- Carter, his younger brother Bowen, Cin and Joe -- are amazing. Their courage, strength, faith and love for one another through this entire journey are inspiring, but they need your prayers more than ever now.

The family received some news about Carter that was extremely painful to hear -- to say the least. His latest MRI showed a new aggressive tumor and further progression of the old one. Carter is in the hospital now. The family has been praying that he gains enough strength to leave the hospital and be at home. It appears this prayer could be answered.

For updates on Carter's condition visit his Carepages site at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Carter_Kettner.

Or -- if you're a member of Facebook -- join the Carter Kettner Fan Club at http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?tid=1259553283280#/group.php?gid=50595994419.
( This is how I get updates about Carter.)

Below is a photo of Carter doing what appears to be a "Home Alone" face. The little guy next to him is his younger brother with my niece and three nephews. My sister and brother-in-law took all of their children to visit Carter in March 2009 at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

MAY GOD BLESS CARTER AND THE ENTIRE KETTNER FAMILY
CARTER'S WEB SITE - http://www.carterkettner.org/

Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office

2010-04-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

"Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers" by Lois P. Frankel is the perfect gift for any young woman graduating college and getting ready to start her career.

I got the book after graduating college and have read it cover to cover a couple times and skimmed through it countless times.

You don't have to be a recent grad to read this book. It's a "must read" for any woman looking to advance her career.

"Fortune Magazine" columnist Annie Fisher says, "Any woman intent on getting ahead in the corporate world (and perhaps wondering what's holding her back) should read this book. Terrific Stuff!"

I have been recommending this book to friends for years. I’m sure I’ll read it again.

Another Winot Wedding

2010-04-13T13:04:00.001-04:00

My brother-in-law Brian and new sister-in-law Vicki Winot got married Saturday, April 10, 2010.

Below are photos from before the ceremony.

The ceremony and reception were held at The Shawnee Inn, a lovely resort located in the Poconos.

Vicki has two children, Nicolas and Natalie, and Brian has one child, Dalton. A portion of the wedding ceremony was dedicated to symbolically bringing the two families together (pictured below).

Scott and I had a lot of fun at the reception. There were a lot of people on the dance floor, which was great. I always feel bad for the bride and groom when I go to a wedding and almost no one dances.

I’m very happy that my in-laws like to dance because I come from a family that loves to. I couldn’t hold back when the music started playing. So, I -- an expectant mama -- hit the dance floor.

Since food is very important to me, I have to mention it was very good. Scott’s favorite was the coconut shrimp and my favorite was the fish stuffed with spinach and crabmeat (The fish was on the list of approved seafood for expectant mothers. Pregnant women have to be careful on what kinds of seafood and how much of it they eat due to mercury levels.)

I love weddings!

First Baby Bump Photos

2010-04-13T11:54:00.000-04:00

I’m 16 weeks and 2 days pregnant in these photos standing with my niece Jessie Wirtz. (Jessie is my sister-in-law Christy (Scott's sister) and brother-in-law Dave's daughter. Dave is currently serving our country in Afghanistan.)

These photos were taken at my brother-in-law Brian (Scott's brother) and new sister-in-law Vicki Winot’s rehearsal dinner Friday, April 9, 2010. The dinner was held at Vicki's brother's home in the Poconos.

Her brother is known for being a good chef. I was so happy to have my appetite back because the food was delicious. Her brother prepared homemade clam chowder, baked ziti with meatballs, macaroni and cheese, chicken, salad and rolls. Scott's mom brought pepperoni bread, which was scrumptious. For dessert we had cheesecake. Yum! (I expect my weight gain will no longer be in the negative the next time I go to the doctor.)

Below is a photo of my husband Scott, nephew Dalton, brother-in-law Brian (Dalton's dad and the groom) at the rehearsal .

What I see in “The Blind Side”

2010-04-09T02:34:00.000-04:00

I bought the movie “The Blind Side” today. I only buy movies I know I will watch repeatedly and this is one of them.

Scott and I saw this movie while it was in theaters and loved it, as did a lot of people. Sandra Bullock was the leading lady in the film and won an Oscar for “Best Actress.”

I’m a fan of the movie because of the heartwarming true story of a well-to-do family taking in an abandoned teen and helping him reach his full potential.

The young man, Michael Oher (played by actor Quinton Aaron) ends up being a first-round NFL draft pick. Oher continues to play for the NFL today, which is another reason I enjoy the movie. I love football.

However, the main reason I'm fond of this movie is because of the real-life mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock). Tuohy is a terrific example of how to be a super strong yet incredibly feminine woman. (The real-life Leigh Anne Tuohy is pictured to the right with her husband and Michael Oher)

Tuohy proves women don’t have to be like men to be powerful. Women can change the world while wearing lipstick and heels.

Way to go Tuohy! I really admire you.

Our First Easter as Husband and Wife

2010-04-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

Scott and I had a lovely first Easter as a married couple.

Scott’s cousin and his family held a get-together Easter afternoon at their home in New Jersey and it was great. There was a nice crowd of people there and more than enough delicious food to go around. I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I’m lucky to have such fun in-laws.

Scott and I went to Mass in the morning -- at a church we had never been to in New Jersey -- and I was so happy when they sang my favorite hymn “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.” However, I got choked up (being pregnant this happens a lot) during the song and had a difficult time singing along. My eyes welled up with tears for a couple reasons.

The first reason is because it made me think of my family in Ohio. This was the first time in 31 years I wasn’t with them on Easter.

There’s no one in the world I would rather spend Easter with and sit next to at Mass than my husband -- no one! However, I wouldn’t mind if on Easter Sunday my parents, younger brother and sister were on the other side of us and my older sister, her husband and their four children were in the pew in front of us.

That’s how it is when we go to Easter Mass at our hometown church in Ohio, where the choir sings “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” beautifully (which is why I thought of my family when the choir sang it at the church in New Jersey).

The other reason I got choked up is because I had watched “The Passion of the Christ” the night before and was visualizing the brutal beating Jesus endured before he was hanged on the cross.

I try to watch “The Passion of the Christ” each Easter season because it gives me a visual of what happened.

Before seeing the movie, I knew the events that took place when Jesus was crucified and believed in his resurrection. However, I don’t think I fully “got it” until I saw the film.

The movie is so well done. I recommend seeing it no matter what your beliefs are.

(You really get to see the human side of Jesus in this movie. Actor James Caviezel does an amazing job in his role as Jesus. One of the scenes that especially gets to me is when Jesus falls while carrying the cross and his mother, Mary, sees him as her little boy falling and rushes over to wipe his face. At that point, you truly understand how horrific it must have been for Mary to see her son crucified. If you've only seen the movie once, I suggest you see it again. I notice something new each time I watch it. There's a lot of symbolism in it that you may not catch the first time around.)

Baby Briefing -- 16 Weeks

2010-04-07T17:02:00.000-04:00

I went to my monthly doctor’s appointment and everything looks good.

Baby Winot’s heart rate was loud and clear at 140 BPM, which is in the normal range.

The doctor felt my belly and said my uterus is exactly where it should be at 16 weeks.

I still weigh 1 pound less than my first doctor’s visit at 5 weeks. However, I was 5 pounds less at my last visit, which means I’ve gained 4 pounds in a month.

My blood pressure, heart rate and sugar levels are good…and so is my mood!

Hello Happy Hormones!

My cousin Meredith Miller is expecting her first child as well and keeps referring to “the sense of well-being” that comes with being pregnant. I know exactly what she means!

After my doctor’s appointment I treated myself to lunch. As I was waiting for my check, I got so excited about going home. I couldn’t wait to get there, open the windows, pour myself an ice-cold drink, turn on some music and start cleaning.

I was so thrilled at the idea of cleaning. It was as if someone told me I was going on a fabulous vacation, to the spa or on a shopping spree.

My mom says she always got in a “nesting” mood when she was pregnant. So, I’m sure that’s a big part of it. My instincts are telling me to get our home (or nest) ready for baby.

Love at First Sight

2010-04-01T13:31:00.000-04:00

Baby's First Photo

We had our first ultrasound at 9 weeks on February 18, 2010 (my sister Missy's birthday). I thought it was sort of funny and kind of cute when Scott, who has seen countless ultrasounds at the hospital, was telling me things before the technician had a chance. I was amazed at how clear the photo was and how developed the baby looked at only 9 weeks. Our little peanut was just about a half an inch from crown to rump.

Seeing our baby and hearing his or her heartbeat for the first time was amazing. I got choked up then and I'm getting choked up now writing about it.

When we got home from the doctor's office, I couldn't stop looking at the photo and would get tears in my eyes each time I did. I was very sick that day, but -- seeing our baby for the first time put me on such a high -- I didn't even care.

Baby Winot's Second Photo Shoot

We had our second ultrasound at 12 weeks on March 9, 2010. The technician had a difficult time getting a photo of Baby Winot because he or she was rolling around so much. It was great to see all of that movement. I love seeing our precious angel and will have as many ultrasounds as the doctor (or insurance) will allow.

It's amazing how much Baby Winot developed in only 3 weeks. He or she measured about 3.5 inches from head to toe with long arms and legs that didn't entirely fit in the photo. (Check out the cute little hand in the top photo.)

You can make out the facial features much more clearly at 12 weeks. In fact, I'm convinced Baby Winot has Scott's lips, which is OK with me because I think my husband has great lips! :-)

I weighed five pounds less than I did when I found out I was pregnant. However, the doctor wasn't concerned. I'm at a healthy weight and the baby is growing. With that said, my appetite has picked up during the second trimester and I think we'll see some weight gain at my next appointment, which is April 7, 2010.

Boy or Girl?

I really don't have a preference.

There's something nice about your oldest being a boy to carry on the family name and protect any possible little sisters who are born after them. Plus, little boys are adorable and usually have a special bond with their mothers.

However, I love little girls! They are so sweet and fun to shop for. Plus, I know she would be daddy's little girl, which would be wonderful.

What do you think? Is Baby Winot a boy or girl? Vote in the poll at the top of this page.

My mother's intuition says we're having a girl, but we'll just have to wait and see.

I can't wait to find out either way. I'm 15 weeks pregnant and we'll find out at 20 weeks. Then let the shopping begin!!!