ring.

So yes, Nick popped the question!

Many people have asked for the details and I have given most people the story in a condensed nutshell so here is the full rundown (and yes, I'm purposefully typing this up here so I don't have to tell the story over and over again but can still share the magical details with everyone!). 

It happened this past Saturday in the late afternoon and I was very, very surprised. Nick and I had discussed marriage a lot and I knew we would be making the next move sometime in 2013 but I didn't anticipate it happening this early in the year. As it turns out, this was ironic thinking on my part because Nick has been planning since last November!

Anyway, here's how it went down:

Nick has been extremely busy at work and on Friday afternoon, he learned that he had to go into work on Saturday. We had talked about maybe going to the Bronx Botanical Garden that day so he was bummed out but I told him we could still have an outdoor adventure since it would still be light out when he was finished. His office is on the southwest corner of Central Park so I made plans to meet him at 5:00 and we'd go for a little park stroll before getting dinner. 

Because of babysitting jobs in the past, I am much more familiar with the park than Nick so I led most of the way. We walked up by The Lake and then through The Ramble and then finally ended up at Belvedere Castle. It was the nicest Saturday weather of 2013 so far so there were people everywhere. As I found out later, Nick wasn't 100% positive he was going to propose that day but he did have the ring with him and was trying to find a private spot. 

After looking out over Turtle Pond, we decided to loop our way back out to the east side of the park. Mere minutes after leaving Belvedere Castle, Nick brought me up onto a rock in a woodsy area. I thought we were going to sit for a minute or see a nice view of the city. We were standing there for just a minute and I was about to say something like, "Should we keep walking?" when Nick turned to me and held out his hand next to his face. I thought he was shielding his eyes from the sun or something and I actually looked away for a minute but when I looked back, he started again and then I realized he was saying "Will you marry me?" in sign language. Before I had a chance to react, he got down on one knee. That's when I reacted! It was very much a blur but I think I said "oh my god oh my god oh my god" while he fished the ring out of his work bag. As he opened the box to reveal the ring, someone from down below the rock shouted out, "SAY YES!" Nick and I both laughed but then Nick said something like "So, are you going to leave me down here forever?" I realized I never answered the question, said a very shocked and smiley "yes" and leaned down to kiss him. He stood up, the ring went on my finger and he said, "So we're engaged now!" 

It was a simple and beautiful moment - Nick didn't have a big specific plan which is very much his style. The sun was going down and the area was beautiful and the whole thing was very natural and wonderful. We sat down and talked about the ring (which I am MADLY in love with), and then I called my mom to break the big news (of course, she cried with happiness and I don't think she stopped crying for the rest of the weekend). 

The ring was custom designed in Albany by a family friend of Nick's parents. It is so different and so ME and I still can't believe Nick has been secretly making this thing behind my back for several months. 

Anyway, the second best part about this whole thing has been the incredible love and support we've gotten from all our family and friends. I was able to share the big news personally with a lot of the most important people in my life but a picture that my best friend Risa put on Facebook sealed the deal in getting the word out to almost everyone else. The onslaught of congratulations and words of endearment has been phenomenal and have totally warmed my heart and reminded me once again that Nick and I are so incredibly lucky to have all of you in our lives. Yes, I am SO excited to marry this man (in summer 2014!) but I am also SO excited to have everyone I love from all over the country in one place at the same time. I can't imagine a more perfect day and now, the countdown has begun!

I (we) love you all. 

xoxo