Reporter Turned Mommy

May 30

Beating the Heat…in Pictures!

by reporterturnedmommy

Between chasing a toddler, being pregnant and trying to keep our house in order, I’ve been busy!

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.

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Our pool is open! We absolutely love it! Since this is our first summer with a pool, we needed pool furniture, pool toys, etc. I’ve been trying to get all the essentials.

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Water tables are awesome. Last year, Blake was still too small to appreciate them. This year, he loves it! Here he is splashing and having a blast with his idol, his ten year old cousin Sean.

Good thing we had some ways to cool off, too. Our air conditioning unit broke over the weekend. It was 86 degrees in our house on Monday and about 95 outside! The unit is being repaired as I write this blog.

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What child doesn’t love a golf cart? We have a house at one of the  Lake Erie Islands and we love to use our golf cart while there. Blake absolutely loves it! Check out his “cool dudes”…that’s what he calls sunglasses! My mom taught him that one.

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Our little guy is now old enough to love kiddie pools! Here he and Daddy are at one of the pools at the islands. Only problem? It was impossible to explain to him why all kids had to get out of the pool for 10 minutes when the lifeguards blew their whistle. Try explaining break time to an almost two year old!?

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After all that activity, time for a snooze! As you can see, our summer is off to a great start. I hope yours is, too! What do your kids like doing outside?

 

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May 22

When to start potty training…

by reporterturnedmommy

I think it’s time. My little guy is giving me signs and I’m going to start potty training.

 

 

As a first time mom, I’ll be the first to admit, I really don’t know what I’m doing. My instincts are telling me to just go with the flow and start the training using good ole’ common sense. I don’t think I need any books to show me how to teach my little one to use the potty. What do you think?

At the suggestion of a friend (thanks Danielle!) I bought a little baby seat to place on top of our “grown-up” potty. I purchased one similar to this…

We will see if it works. I’m praying it does because the thought of cleaning out a little baby potty makes me cringe!

While I’m not planning on buying any potty training books for me, I do think I’ll get one for Blake, to help him get used to the idea.

Blake is now 21 months old and my pediatrician said most toddlers are potty trained between 2.5 and 3.5. However, like I said, my little guy is giving me signs so I’m going to start now. I would love to have him potty trained before the new baby arrives late this fall!

Did you buy any potty training books for your kiddos or even to help you teach your little one? How long did it take you to potty train your toddler? I would really appreciate any tips!

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May 20

A tribute and a girl’s night out

by reporterturnedmommy

Those of you that read this blog may remember my recent post on my buddy Brian McIntyre. Unfortunately, B-Mac passed away a week ago today, on Mother’s Day.

His viewing was Thursday, funeral Friday and Saturday there was a wonderful benefit to help his wife and five-year old son. I could go on and on about what a wonderful guy he was and the legacy he leaves behind. I was so touched at the viewing to see in the midst of the dozens of photographs of B-Mac, there was one of Brian and I and our friend, Gina, at an Ohio University RTNDA (Radio Television News Directors Association) Conference. We all loved this man!

Despite our sadness, the benefit was absolutely packed and I got to see a lot of my old friends from OU that traveled to be here in Cleveland for the event. No one can pack a room like B-Mac! Some of the girls from Fox 8 and I made a night of it and had dinner at a fun tavern in Rocky River.

I’d never been to the Burntwood Tavern and it was great! We had patio seating which was perfect for our beautiful weekend weather. The food was awesome and the company was even better! Here’s a look at our group! From left, Suzanne (when I was working, everyone got the two of us confused! haha Two blonde reporters was too much for people to keep straight!), Danielle, the famous and wonderful Danny Coughlin (Danny was a sports anchor at Fox 8 for decades. He retired a few years ago and has since written two books on his 45 years in the Cleveland sports market. To check out his books, click here) , Katie, Me, Lindsay, Stacey and Elisa!

 

I miss seeing these girls so much and it was great to catch up. Of course, as the girls enjoyed delicious looking wine, I enjoyed fabulous ice water! :) Good news on the pregnancy front though….I’m  feeling better and I’m sure I’ve gained back some of the weight I lost.

Here’s another look at our group, or should we say, “Danny and the girls!”.

 

We all loved  B-Mac, so here’s to our buddy, for getting us all together this weekend! We miss you.

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May 15

The Great Gender Debate…to find out or not to find out.

by reporterturnedmommy

First of all, THANK YOU so much for all of your wonderful well wishes last week! I felt like a kid on Christmas as I hit “publish” for my blog post, announcing that we are expecting another baby. Your words of encouragement and congratulations mean the world to us!

I’m settling into my pregnancy as I am now entering my second trimester. I actually lost five pounds from week eight to week 12. Luckily, my doctor put me on some anti-nausea meds that are really helping. I certainly don’t look like I’ve lost any weight though!

Now on to the great debate…to find out the gender of the baby or stay surprised? We did NOT find out the sex for Blake and I LOVED not knowing. I feel there are so few GOOD surprises in life and waiting to hear those magical words, “It’s a____” in the delivery room is priceless! There is nothing like that moment! Below is a picture right after Blake was born.

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I have plenty of friends that feel the exact opposite. They say they are “planners” and need to know. Believe me, I’m a planner, too. I had everything meticulously planned out for the arrival of our baby. In my opinion, the gender isn’t something you need to plan for.

There is obviously no right or wrong, and I’m not judging those that find out. For me, though, the whole experience is more magical when the greatest surprise is revealed the day your baby enters the world. Another perk….all of our newborn items and big purchases, like the swing, bouncy seats, crib, etc, are gender neutral, meaning I can use them all on baby number two!

What do you think? Did you find out the sex of your baby before they were born? Let the great debate begin!

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May 11

Blake’s Big Announcement!

by reporterturnedmommy

We have a major announcement for our little family and Blake would like to bring you the news!

The shirt is a little disheveled, but it reads, “I’m going to be a BIG BROTHER!”. We are thrilled to be able to share this exciting news with all of you. Our new little bundle is due to arrive sometime in mid-November, before Thanksgiving, giving us even more to be thankful for this year.

Other than the nausea and exhaustion, I’m doing great. The new little one has a strong, healthy heartbeat and we are praying for a happy, healthy baby in November!

Kathleen and Family :)

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May 9

Weekend in the Big Apple!

by reporterturnedmommy

One of my best friends, Stacey, moved to New York City a few months ago. We met seven years ago at Fox 8 Cleveland. Stacey was the main anchor and I was the evening reporter.

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to spend a short, girls only, weekend with her in her new hometown!

I hadn’t been to New York in six years and I absolutely love the city. This was the first time I was able to get a glimpse at how actual New Yorkers live, though. I was impressed that in the few short months since Stacey moved, she’s been able to figure out the seemingly complicated subway map system. I was also impressed at how self-contained each residential area seemed to be, with drug and grocery stores, dry cleaners, doggie day cars and gyms, all within a city block.

Here’s a look at some of our weekend highlights.

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Saturday, we started out in the Flat Iron District, at Mario Batali’s huge market place/restaurant Eataly. We had a light lunch of bread, cheese, and prosciutto….right up my alley! If you’ve never been to Eataly, this is a must stop in NYC. They have cooking classes, wine tastings, the list goes on and on.

Next, we headed to my favorite part of NYC, Fifth Ave, near the iconic Plaza Hotel. I just love this part of old New York, right next to Central Park. Stacey and I got cupcakes from Crumbs and sat outside FAO Schwartz and Bergdorf Goodman and took in the atmosphere.

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After an afternoon of sightseeing, we headed back to Stacey’s to rest and watch the Kentucky Derby.

Before heading out for dinner, we posed for some pictures with the New York City skyline as our backdrop!

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I look like a munchkin in these pictures! Stacey advised me to wear flats until we got to the subway stop, then change into my heels…so that’s what I did! The result?  A super short looking me!

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We had a fabulous dinner at Philippe Chow  with my old friend from News 14 Carolina/Charlotte, Lisa. Lisa was the morning reporter at News 14 when I was the morning anchor. We hadn’t seen each other in seven years!

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It was like no time had passed! Lisa is a native New Yorker and she and Stacey now work for the same news organization, News 12. They are at different News 12 stations, though, so this was a great chance for them to meet.

The icing on the cake for my New York weekend? When we walked out of Philippe, we saw the paparazzi! I don’t respect or condone how they make their living, but, I’ve gotta admit, it was cool to see them in action. Allegedly, Tori Burch and Ron Pearlman were eating at our restaurant. Very cool!

Spending the weekend in NYC with great girlfriends was such a treat. I can’t wait to do it again!

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Have you been to any of these hot spots in NYC? What is your favorite part of the Big Apple?

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May 3

Paying it forward, for one of my mentors

by reporterturnedmommy

I’ve been lucky in my life to have had some great career mentors. One of those mentors now needs my help. His name is Brian McIntyre. I first met B-Mac, as we all call him, when I was a freshman at Ohio University. He was already a big-name TV reporter in the Cleveland market, but he always came back to OU to talk to all of us young, aspiring, journalists. Brian made a point of learning our names, watching our newscasts, and then critiquing our work with us after each show. It took time. It took patience. But you could see he loved it.

Years later, when I was 25 and working as an anchor in Charlotte, I landed a job at Fox 8 in Cleveland. One of my first calls was to B-Mac. He was as proud of me as my own parents! Brian gave me loads of advice, from where to live, to the ins and outs of the TV market. When I moved to Cleveland, he took me to dinner, gave me a tour of the city and even copied his own rolodex of news contacts for me.

Over the years, while we were both reporting for different TV stations in Cleveland, we would run into each other on stories. He would always say something over the top when he saw me, like, “There’s the most beautiful woman in Cleveland!”. He said that stuff to everyone to lift us up and make us smile. It always worked! When I would complain about my job, he always said, “We have the best jobs in the world” and he was able to remind me of why I became a reporter in the first place.

Now Brian is in the fight of his life. Cancer has taken over his body and he is now under Hospice care. He has a beautiful wife and an adorable five year old son. Brian was the breadwinner for his family. His wife, a Cleveland school teacher, was recently laid off. While Brian does have insurance, the bills are still piling up. On May 19th, a benefit is being held to help cover expenses for Brian and his family.

Here is the information.

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Anything that any of you can do will be truly appreciated by this wonderful family.

Though I haven’t talked to Brian in a while and have kept up with his journey mostly by Facebook, I feel such a profound sense of gratitude to this man. Have I taken the time to mentor someone the way he did me, and so many others? No. Do I exude positive energy and hopefulness when I walk into a room? Not always. The question is, why not? I am now going to try make a conscious effort to be more like one of my mentors. B-Mac would want me to pay it forward. 

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May 1

A Weekend in Miami

by reporterturnedmommy

It was confirmed this weekend. Miami is NOT my kind of city! Dean and I spent the weekend in South Beach with Dean’s brother, Chris, and our sister-in-law, Laura, Laura’s sister and her husband, and two other couples.

Here’s a look at a few of the fellas in our group.

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This trip was part Christmas present and part get-a-way to help Chris and Laura deal with a very difficult weekend. If you read my last blog post, you will recall that Saturday was the two year anniversary of the death of two of Laura’s children, Erin and Andrew.

We arrived in Miami Friday to ok weather. It was overcast and we didn’t see much sun. Little did we know that would be our best weather day! It rained all day Saturday and Sunday, meaning no beach or pool time for us!

We did, however, manage to do some sightseeing and I got the best facial of my life at the hotel spa!

Here’s one stop we made that we definitely could have skipped….

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I wanted to check out the Kardashian’s store, DASH, just for fun. What a waste of time! First of all, Dash Miami is in a bad location. It’s blocks from the main strip and the “good” shopping areas of South Beach.

Secondly, not only are the clothes extremely overpriced (we’re talking $800.00 for a dress, $100.00 for a t-shirt), the clothes we looked at were ripped or missing sequins or beading.

I was also shocked when I opened a candle box to smell the candle, only to find that it had been used, down to the wick, yet was on the sale floor! Dash Miami…..poor quality, overpriced, not worth your time!

One place I did love in South Beach? Prime 112 Steakhouse! I’m sure many of you have heard of this South Beach Institution and it did not disappoint!

Here’s a look at some of our group just before dinner.

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On a side note, the rainy weather made my hair look like a wet mop the whole trip. Not loving the above picture of myself! haha

Back to Prime 112…the best part was dessert. We ordered their famous Fried Oreos.

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Think beignets with an Oreo inside. They were incredible! My brother-in-law said he could have eaten 17 of them! haha

We had a nice weekend, but I don’t need to return to Miami anytime soon. This was my second trip to South Beach in the past four years and I find the city pretentious, overpriced and way too cool for me! I am much more of a “sit by the beach and listen to a guitar player” kinda girl than I am a club and DJ kinda person. I’ve always been that way…even in college.

So while I had a great time with my hubby and our friends and family, Image

I confirmed I’m much more Key West than I will ever be South Beach!

Have you been in South Beach? What about any of the DASH stores? If so, what are your thoughts?

 

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