Thanks to Let's Frolic Together for the awesome photos!

The initial plan was to propose before Thanksgiving.  At least that was my thinking in late September.  The obstacles included a ring and the how.  I had plenty of *hints* of what a ring, you know…if I was thinking about that sort of thing, could look like.  Thankfully I had the hookup with my dad, since he’s a jeweler.  So how hard could it be to find a green rock?  The answer, not easy.

Like every piece of our story, the details tend to fall into the right place.  This one just needed a bit of time.  And so weeks became months, and by the time Thanksgiving came around, the wheels were in motion but the ring was late.  And I was growing impatient.  Ok, change of plans.  Before Christmas!

December was a stressful mess.  The thought of a proposal can be stressful enough, let alone around the holidays and during our work peak season.  When the ring finally arrived, it was perfect.  This 3 month plus project was worth the wait and the stress.  I knew she would love it.  Unfortunately, it arrived two days before Christmas, aaarggggh.  It felt rushed.  So scratch that; lets try this one more time.  Before New Years!  But first, lets go to Vegas.

We had planned a Vegas trip between Christmas and New Years to unwind before the start of 2015.  In retrospect, it was perfect timing.  I needed it more than she even knew.  So a plan formed that involved us landing a day before New Years Eve and a lie about drinks with my new co-workers around the place we had our first kiss a few hours before the start of 2015.  There were many ideas of how and where.  But everything came back to those stairs that curved Bunker Hill.  That was where it was meant to be.  Before we left for Vegas I swung by her parents to ask for their blessing.  Her mom, my soon-to-be mom,  welcomed me into the family.  Her dad, my soon-to-be-dad, reminded her that she hadn’t said yes yet.

And so 3 months, a green radiated ring, 2 fender benders, 2 family holidays, a week in Vegas and a snow storm later, New Years Eve came with no better way to end the year than to look forward to the start of a new chapter in our lives.  Since our first date, I knew Christina was my missing piece, my second half, the love of my life.  She fit the puzzle that was needed to start the rest of our lives together.  I couldn't be luckier to find her.

That is, assuming she said yes.

A day or two after Christmas Carlos told me that his boss had invited us for drinks in downtown on New Year's Eve which I thought was kind of strange but I went with it. New Year's Eve morning came quickly and since Carlos woke up early to run "errands," I took advantage of the free time and did some serious lounging. When he got back home he got ready quicker than he ever has while I continued my Disney marathon. It wasn't for a while until I thought I should probably start getting ready. Midway through getting dressed I saw that my better half was in a full suit AND he shaved. What was going on??? He was ready before me and dressed up. I thought I better dress nicely and for whatever reason, started feeling anxious. How important were these drinks???

We made our way downtown and midway through the drive Carlos mentioned we'd have to walk a bit. I regretted my footwear decision immediately and grumbled about it a bit but did remember the escalators on Bunker Hill that would definitely help in my climb. We parked and started our hike, me complaining much of the way (in retrospect, I wish I hadn't been so bratty). He was quieter than usual which again, made me uneasy. As we reached the foot of Bunker Hill I saw the escalators were roped off. WHAT?!? My only hope- gone! 

We walked up the stairs, hand-in-hand, and I remembered our first walk in Bunker Hill. We were half-way up "our stairs" when he tugged my hand and tearily told me, "This is it," and pulled out a green box from his jacket. He opened the box and in it I saw the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. It was everything I had hinted about but 100 times more beautiful. Only Carlos, with the help of his dad, could make my green diamond dreams come true! 

I had told myself that when the time came, that I'd need to hold it together and listen very carefully to what was being said so I could remember it forever. None of that happened, I did the ugly cry and though I do sort of remember all he said and did, I remember it like a dream. In parts and beautiful blurs. I do know I said yes and that he made me the happiest girl alive.

Before I met Carlos, I was never sure if I'd meet "the one". Maybe I'd never meet the man who made me laugh until I cry or give me the butterflies in my tummy. I did know I didn't want to settle and spend my life with just anyone, but maybe that person wasn't out there and that was ok. Since that first night out and later our first kiss I knew he was the one. Perfect for me with all the laughs and butterflies I could ever imagine but also challenges me to grow and be a better me. So excited to see where our story will take us!