"Baby Carlos" as we call him (yes, it's a boy), is due June 9, 2017. We have a Gemini baby on the way!
So far Baby Carlos has been a great baby not giving his mommy morning sickness and all the other nightmares one hears about being pregnant. Let's keep that track record going!
Baby Carlos already has a blossoming personality! He enjoys turning his back to the ultrasound tech and seems to enjoy trap music (specifically Migos which whenever his Dad plays it for him, he starts kicking.)
Chells really hopes he gets his Dad's rhythm as she has none!
His Dad has been talking to him a LOT, which is usually met with a kick to the cheek if it's late. Dad has already let Baby Carlos know Kappa is the only way.
Arguably the biggest R. Kelly fan known to man, Michelle “Chells” Mills Clement was born and raised on the south side of Chicago (not to be confused with the south suburbs). She was given the nickname “Chells” in 2003 by herself out of love for the King of R&B. She is the daughter of Larry Mills, a retired Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant, and Cynthia Mills, a retired Chicago Public School Teacher. She is also blessed with two awesome bonus parents, Ronald Walsh and Marlin Mills.
A lover of all things “Chi,” Chells has great admiration for Da Chicago Bears, with the exception of Jay Cutler who she has a strong desire to drop kick. She also holds a great deal of respect for the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, and – despite potential stereotypes – has a strong, and addicting love affair with Harold’s Chicken Shack. She held the honor of Foursquare Mayor of Harold’s in Matteson, IL until Fall of 2013 when she was defeated by default after moving to the pacific northwest. And even though he’s not from Chi, Chells deems it important to note she also loves Prince. A highlight of her life was attending three of his concerts three nights in a row.
Chells grew up as the only girl amongst her siblings with older brothers Larry Mills and Brian Clay and younger brothers David Mills and Terrell Walsh. Needless to say, she was pretty happy when bonus sister Ashley Nazon came along! She also gained another bonus sister with her sister-in-law Melissa Mills, who is probably the only one in the family who fully understands Michelle’s career.
Chells loves spending time with her nephews Patrick Ray Mills, Nicholas Ryan Mills and Xavier James Mills who regularly refers to himself as “Alex the Lion,” because why wouldn’t you name yourself after a lion? She also has a diva niece, Brandy Ashleigh Mills, whose resemblance and personality is strongly reflective of Aunt Chells ;-).
Chells attended Kellogg Elementary School in Beverly on Chicago’s southwest side where her mother was her 6th grade teacher. She graduated from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights where she was a four-year varsity starter on the Women’s Soccer Team. Chells attended undergrad at Bradley University in Peoria, IL where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication. Her time at Bradley was some of the best years of her life where she forged many lifetime friendships and experiences. During her time at Bradley, she pledged in the spring of 2000 into the greatest sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Theta Epsilon Chapter. She quickly learned there’s no greater bond than Theta Epsilon.
Chells later went on to complete her Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. As a result of all these degrees, Sally May has Chells on speed dial.
Michelle currently works in the field of association management; a career that her family and friends are still not totally clear on what she does for a living. She currently serves as the CEO of the Commercial Brokers Association.
In July of 2013, Michelle moved to Seattle, WA to start a new phase of her life with the love of her life Brace as he took a new career move with Starbucks Corporation. Their kitties Smokey & Sasha also moved with them, despite literally kicking and meowing on the way there.
While they will always love Chicago, Chells and Brace have grown to really enjoy making Seattle their new home, and have made some wonderful friendships along the way. They are particularly in love with the lack of cold weather and snow that Seattle provides.
While Chells is enjoying her time in Seattle, she wants to make it clear she will never in life wear a Seattle Seahawks jersey. #BearsFanForLife
Brace was born in Robbins, IL. right outside of Chicago, IL. However, he was raised in many different places including Bremerhaven, Germany. Brace joined the United States Marine Corp after high school and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois at Springfield receiving a degree in Political Studies. He went on to complete his Master's degree in Business Administration one year ago at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a concentration in Finance, and accepted a position after graduation with Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle, Washington.
Since moving to Seattle, Brace spends his spare time with his fiancé, new found friends, the kitties and enjoys running, hiking, cooking, and the remainder of his free time is usually spent enjoying life and learning as much as possible.
Brace's family resides in Chicago, IL.
According to Her...
Living in the south suburbs and working downtown, I always took the Metra to work for my commute. One spring day I had to arrive to work early for a morning meeting. Not being a morning person, and not being able to wear a hoody to work, I opted for one of my crotchet hats and some sunglasses so I could stay incognito and lay low on the morning commute. When I arrived at Millennium Station in a crabby mode because it was so early, all I wanted to do was find coffee. Waiting in line to exit the train, there was this attractive, light-skin , bald-head brotha who caught my eye. He was attractive…but I was sleepy. He smiled and waved at me….I can’t even remember if I responded because again, it was too early! After my short walk over the Michigan Ave Bridge to my 401 N Michigan office, I went to my cube, entertained all my co-workers commenting on why I was there so early, and when straight to the coffee pot!
As I started to come back to life after my caffeine fix, I logged on my computer and checked Facebook….because that’s what everyone does as soon as they get to work, duh. I had a message in my inbox with the subject “Did I Just See You On The Train?” It was a message from the attractive, light-skin, bald-head brotha! I read the message and it said something about I think I just saw you, and you had on a yellow Mary Tyler Moore hat. My immediate reaction was “STALKER!” But then I realized we were already friends on facebook….so that must mean I know him? Right? Of course. So I proceeded to stalk his page to see if I could remember him. I saw he had pictures with my boy Barack, and I assumed that’s how we knew each other. I responded to the message saying that was me on the train and that I thought it was just a crochet hat, but apparently Mary Tyler Moore wore it first. Fine.
So naturally we started talking about who we knew in common since he too seemed to roll with Barack. He mentioned he worked at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. That’s when the light bulb went off. I asked him if he knew my mentor Robin Kelly who was the Chief of Staff over there. He corrected me and said that of course he knows HIS mentor, Robin Kelly who was also his boss and like a mom. So I did what any one would do in this situation….I called Robin! For those who know Robin, she gets a tad excited over matchmaking. She raved about him and reminded me she had told me about him before. I started to remember various events when I saw him and when we were in the same room over the years. Then it dawned on me the day we became “Facebook Friends” was during the Obama/Clinton campaigns. A mutual friend of ours was working on the Hillary campaign and was going hard on a Facebook post about Hillary. Knowing that everyone respects Hillary, I think the consensus was bashing Barack was not necessary, plus we knew dude was team Barack. By the end of that debate, everyone “friended” everyone.
Moving forward, after a couple of months of chatting back and forth on Facebook and riding the train back to the burbs together, the mutual attraction started to flourish. Then one day I posted a picture of my fresh new bob hair cut complete with some hot blond highlights styled by my esteemed stylist Enjoli, to my Facebook page with the caption, “I say my hair! My hair is lookin like a Bomb!” a popular Martin Lawrence reference for those who didn’t know. I got about 30 or so comments on how great my hair looked. Only my girl Cethy knew about the Martin reference….but then it happened…Brace commented with the following: “RE: your quote - Martin! haha!? <> "BEAU-TI-FULLL!"…… finally a man that got my Martin references! And with that….I was in love!
According to Him...
There are many ways we could write this story, but the first time I saw Chells in person was riding the Metra to Millineum park Station. I used to sit on the top of the train car and would see her every now and then wearing these Mary Tyler Moore hats. One evening while running late to the train, I happen to get on the same crowded train car as she was in and she had one of the only seats available. Sweaty and tired from running, I sat down with her and introduced myself. She was a little aloof, but she listened to me as I rattled off all kinda bad jokes and questions. Stunned by her style. Stunned by her smile. Stunned by the fact that she was even prettier in person. Stunned by the fact that something inside of me changed instantaneously when I saw her, and I had no idea what it was. Needless to say, our first in-person introduction was somewhat awkward. I was sort of taken back by way of awkward and she was just smiley. Damn her and her smile. It just makes you do crazy stuff. I think it was a week later, I told her I loved her.
10.31.14
Yes, we got married on Halloween ;-)
The fact that we got married on Halloween should be no shock to anyone. It's our favorite holiday, so when Brace came up with this wedding date, I quickly agreed!
Chells and Brace both share a love for Halloween. Chells, who has been obsessed with the holiday for many years, won her first costume contest dressed up as a witch at the age of 7. My grand prize was the Michael Jackson BAD album (by album, we mean a vinly record).
Brace was young when he started loving the holiday. Had to be somewhere between the age of 9 and when you stop trick or treating. He remembers going trick or treating with with his cousins and returning to trade candies (commonly referred to as "Candy Bartering"). He always went for the chocolate bars and sweet tarts. Funny thing is today he doesn't even eat that much candy and prefers fruits and vegetables as snacks.
Brace and Chells first Halloween together was epic! Chells dressed up as Lady Gaga (before errrbody was dressing up as Lady Gaga), and Brace dressed up as a "The Victim of a Jealous Lover/Zombie Guy," with no eyes. He scared many people! They hung out at Shrine all night, and by the grace of God made it home! (Pumpkin Wine and Don Julio are the Devil!)
The following year they decided to host a Halloween party. Who knew how much fun it would be! It became an annual affair, and their guests never disappointed!
Their friends took the costume contest to the next level right along with us! From Tyrone Biggums, Siri the iPhone, Red Crayon, Bain, Randy Watson (you might remember him as "Joe the Policeman" from that episode of "That's My Mama!"), Honey Boo Boo, Theo in a Gordon Gartrell shirt, Bob from Marketing, Jerome, MC Hammer, Sexy Red Skittle, a Twister Board, The Gammites and Gamma Rays, Sho Nuff, Sexy Pope, Shit Emoji, Uncle Denzel....the list just goes on and on! The creativity was unreal!