If you go to airliners.net and do a archive photo search towards the bottom of the home page where the airplane is a erj-145, airline is AE, and the category is cabin views, you will get a nice shot of the cabin.
This week will be my first as well on that plane, and I did choose 1A, just because it looks like it has the most legroom. Thanks Superslug for the heads up on the carry-on. Also, Superslug, is it possible to do a gate baggage check? where they unload the bags as soon as you land and put it by the stairs?