It's A ............ :) :) :) :)

I can't believe the last time your dad and I caught a glimpse of your tiny little growing body, it was over SIX WEEKS ago.  Such a short litte snippet of time, in the grand scheme of this pregnancy...but at the time, it felt like an ETERNITY.  Especially since we knew this particular sonogram would reveal if we'd be having a sweet little GIRL or if you'd be a bouncing baby BOY?!?!? 

I have to say, I don't know how people go a whole nine months without knowing the sex of their babies.  Your dad and I are such planners.  I NEEDED focus.  I needed direction.  Going into Babies R Us has been so overwhelming... that on more than one occassion I have left feeling more confused than when we went in.  I knew that finding out your sex would bring that clarity that I needed to really start focusing on YOU.  YOU were going to be more REAL to us than just being a growing little body in my belly. You were finally going to have a NAME.  An identity.  Visions in my head would finally be more clear.  Or at least, the IDEA of you would finally be more clear.. and that's all I really needed to start planning for your arrival.  :) 

When the day finally came and the nerves had reached their peak, just when I was convinced.. and don't hate me for this later... that you were MOST certainly a BOY...  (I'd had THREE dreams of seeing a little baby boy by this point.. so I had begun to call you "he") .. we finally got to walk into that sonogram room to find out for sure.  

Right away the sonographer asked if we wanted to know your gender.  We OVER-enthusiastically said YES and she began her tour of your little belly apartment.  :)  Heart beat strong and clear, the sonographer made her way around taking measurements of your little baby parts until she stopped abruptly and said... 

It's a GIRL!!!!! 

Just like the first day we heard your little heartbeat, my heart took a flying LEAP straight up to my throat!! We were THRILLED!  Stunned to say the least...but OVERJOYED.  I knew, in that one instance, your dad was done for.  He was MORE than beaming sitting there beside me in that room.  You could light up a thousand city blocks with the light that was pouring out of his eyes.  I fell in love with him a little more that day.  All because of you.  :)  I can't wait to hold you in my arms... October can't get here fast enough...

Two SECONDS after leaving the doctors office, we immediately got to work planning our little "gender reveal" get together for that evening.  True to form, and VERY LIKE us Kelley's for planning things so late... your dad hit the ground running planning the menu and shopping for last minute neccessities while I tried my best to NOT scream it from the rooftops to EVERYBODY that we FINALLY knew you were a GIRL!!

Gender Reveal Cupcakes!! Pink Frosting in the middle, Yellow on top! 

Hard at work...

YUMMY Chef Chad Kelley spread..

Mmmmmmm... Soooooooooooo incredibly good Tri-tip.  Perfection. 

Homemade Cheese sticks, and cheese crackers.  Made by your dad of course.  :)

The kiddies.. enjoying the festivities. 

Everybody excited and anxious to hear!!

We even played the DVD of you moving around in my belly. 

We thought someone might be able to tell from the video but..

NO LUCK!!  You were STILL a mystery by this point.  :) 

So... we took a VOTE!! 

After some people took their first bite... they found... 

PINK frosting!! 

I was too busy actually watching people's reactions to get more pictures of their faces.. lol..

Your Dallas Grandma, Miss Lisa, spreading the good cheer!! 

Eat More Chicken :)

Alright, so we all know I'm not a real chef.  I'll leave that very fine distinction to my husband who has slaved in the kitchen for years thinking of new and exciting palate pleasers for the general public.  I, on the other hand, am (most always), left to fend for myself when it comes to dinner-time selections and preparations (because of Chad's crazy restaurant schedule).  Of course, as one would most certainly expect, during our time together I've learned new techniques, tried unusual things...basically I've broken down any food barriers I've ever had.  But when it comes to what I'd like to eat for dinner each night, the choices are always simple.  One pot wonders, and actually, on most days, an egg dish of some sort.  Chad (and everyone who knows me well for that matter) thinks I'm insane for being able to eat the same thing.. day in and day out (if I had to, of course.. I DO change it up a bit, on occassion..  ;) 

One of my go-to "recipes" while Chad's at work is this SUPER easy, Sweet and Tangy Chicken Salad.  I wish I could tell you the actual AMOUNTS of each of these ingredients, but it really is all "to-taste"...and I just TASTE my way along. 

Here's what you'll need though..

- Store Bought Rotisserie Chicken.  (EASY PEASY already!;)  (Torn into small bits with your hands)

- Mayonnaise ( I usually start with this first.. you'll want a light coating, not too heavy and wet)

- Sweet Relish (equal parts sweet & dill. I start with a little of each & add til I've gotten the taste I like)

- Dill Relish (because I like mine "tangy"...I'll add a bit of the dill juice at the end, but only if it needs it)

- Dried Cranberries (for that chewy sweetness...nothing beats it!)

- Salt & Pepper (I always leave this to the end and add, as needed)

- Low Carb (Wheat) Mission Tortillas (I like mine heated through..and yes, I know they aren't "REAL" tortillas..but I'm trying to watch my carbs...and these actually taste great!) 

So... it's not fancy schmancy and all that jazz...but it sure is TASTY!  :) 

Sangria Funday Recipe :)

In honor of the holidays (HAPPY 4th of July Everyone!) and this scorching Texas summer heat, I've decided to do a quick post on our very popular Sunday Funday Sangria Recipe!  A few of you have asked for the recipe after posting some photos on Facebook, so I thought I'd put it out there for everyone to enjoy.  (Sorry, by the way, that the pictures are just "Eh.." , they were taken with my phone a while ago...waaaay before the "Sangria Ban" went into effect at our house.)  Lol.. with that said, a little word to the wise...these things are unexpectedly powerful!  After our last Sangria "Session", Chad said we needed to "cool it" for a while if "we" wanted to be fully functional at work the next day...And by "we", I mean "HE".  Amateur.  ;)

Ok.. so here's what you'll need.  

- The biggest pitcher you can find.. (ours was too small to start) 
- 2 medium/large oranges
- 3 medium limes
- 2 large lemons 
- 1 and 1/2 cartons of strawberries (all fruit sliced somewhat thin)
- Agave Nectar OR sugar to taste 
- and a splash of ginger ale added at the end for fizz (to taste really..not necessary)

Spirits:  
- We ended up using four white wines (two moscato's which are generally sweeter whites which means less sugar needed to your sangria, and two pinot grigios) you don't have to buy expensive kinds either.. (we used Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi for the Moscato and Beringer for the Pinots)
- Shot of Cointreau for each bottle used

Combine all ingredients and lightly muddle fruit.  Let sit for as long as possible for maximum flavor marriage.  :)  

Enjoy!  

Foodie Delights... Chad Kelley style

If only there was a way to come through the computer to smell these dishes... simply devine.... WISH YOU WERE HERE!

Chicken Tikka Masala simmering away...

Finished dish with Cucumber Riata...

Chicken Satay with a peanut butter/soy/curry dipping sauce...

Getting his grill on...

Chicken...on a SCHTEEK :)

Soy and garlic marinated chicken skewers....

Macie.. patiently waiting for something to fall on the floor...

Bacon wrapped chicken....

Chicken shots...

Bacon grease lovin'..

Food Network Style.. :)

Before Chad came into my life, all I honestly watched was the Food Network. I didn't ever really put into practice what I saw, I hardly cooked at all... but I've always enjoyed watching people create and work with their hands. I've come to love and appreciate that Chad and I are very similar in the fact that we BOTH have strong creative spirits. Chad, in his own way, creates art with the food he prepares... having a keen attention to colors and composition in his plating techniques and with his ability to combine and delicately balance unique flavors. During Chad's last day off, he worked his magic on one of the most delicious home cooked meals he'd ever made.... and I enjoyed every minute, just watching him create. I would've lent a hand, except this time he was prepping a recipe for a Young Chef's competition he'd had entered in. Wish him luck.. the final round of this competition is on Monday, where he has to prepare his dish for several judges! :)

Chad and his SCCCRRRIIIMMPPSS...

A splash of color...

Working on our garlic/cheese bread..

Chad's creation of shrimp and clams in a serrano ham, tomato, onion, garlic and lemon reduction sauce...
Our BEAUTIFUL dinner awaits...