More so than ever I have been finding myself wondering “how did we get here?” I day dream a lot, especially at work when my options are working on an account reconciliation or remembering my wedding day.I think it’s because Luke and I are entering a new chapter of our lives into unknown territory where we have no control and are forced to have a little faith. This is hard for us because we like control and feel like we can create the outcome we want from taking control from planning to execution. Babies don’t operate like that. Anyways, when I’m not trying to get control back I find myself thinking about all of things that had to align to put Luke and I in the position we are today.

So this is a series I am going to start to fill in the gaps between all the big baby news. Kind of like an in-depth throw back Thursday starting with our engagement on June 15,2013 working our way to present day Erin getting as big as a house….here we go:

How Did We Get Here: The Engagement

I had been wondering for awhile when Luke was going to propose. I mean we had talked about marriage and agreed that we were end game, I showed him what kind of ring I wanted, we were already living together and had a baby together (Zeus) so it was just a matter of making it official and green lighting the wedding planning. There were a few times when I thought it was going to happen but then nothing transpired so I tried my best to let it go.

Then one week in the middle of June 2013 he started acting all weird. He was super clingy and constantly professing his love to me which I was used to during the first part of our relationship when he was on the road but I thought we had gotten used to the situation so it was a little unexpected and a lot annoying. I kinda thought he was going to blindside me with something like he got the bar maid in Safford pregnant but I just went with it and told myself I was being an ungrateful beeyotch. June is hot in Phoenix so Luke suggested we go hiking up North that weekend to get out of the heat and explore. It sounded great to me and I excitedly invited my cousin, Dani, who was living with us for the summer. When I told Luke I invited Dani he said “oh really, I was hoping it would just be us…” That was really out of character for him – he’s usually a more the merrier type of guy so I had to figure out how to un-invite my sister-cousin-roommate.

The Friday before we were set to hike it was my best friend, Shaina’s, birthday so we went out with her and a few friends for margaritas. As soon as we sat down Luke ordered a pitcher of margaritas and a round of patron shots. Luke and I play this game where whoever gets drunk first doesn’t have to drive. I always win, but that night Luke was drunk before I could even order a drink. It was especially odd since I thought that I should be celebrating with my friend but instead I was on the sidelines watching Luke get hammered with my bestie. On the drive home Luke started rambling and then looked at me and said, “what do you want from me? You know I’ll give you anything.” He then proceeded to empty his wallet out on the floor of my car, giving me everything he had. I for sure thought there was no way we were getting up at 6 am to go hiking as planned.

6 am sharp Saturday morning Luke sat up in bed, shook me awake and told me to hurry up because we were already running late. I was shocked he was alive much less functioning at such a high level. I still technically hadn’t told Dani she was uninvited so I left the house without saying anything to her. I justified it in my head by saying “there’s no way she wanted to get up that early to go hiking since she got home from work so late…” What a jerk move. Luke drove us north along the beeline highway to Barnhardt trail head which is about 20 minutes south of Payson. The trail was beautiful and we were the only people on it. However, I was nursing a foot injury from the week before when riding my bike home from happy hour with Dani and Luke I mistook a curb for a driveway, plowed into the curb and flew off my bike. I was wearing sandals and somehow managed to gouge a big chunk out of my foot. I hobbled along the best I could to keep up with Luke who seemed to be on a mission. At the top of the trail there was this beautiful waterfall and it was actually green and shady. I was looking forward to a break but Luke was insistent that we get going back before it got too hot. OK boss!

On the way down, Luke took off way ahead of me and left me hobbling all by myself down the mountain. I was about to yell at him when he turned back and started walking toward me. He looked terrified. Like he had just made eye contact with a ferocious mountain lion terrified. I asked him what was wrong and that’s when he got down on one knee. My mind went blank. I remember pulling his sunglasses off his face and then mine so we could look into each other’s eyes but far as what he said I only remember bits and pieces. I’m pretty sure “you’re my lobster,” “you make me happy,” and “will you be my wife” were in there somewhere. I said “YES!!!” and then Luke attempted to put the ring on, but my fingers were so swollen from hiking that he could barely manage. No squishy fingers were going to get in the way of me and my ring though so I finally jammed it on successfully. I walked the entire rest of the way down the mountain staring at my ring and marveling at how many things I could make its shiny-ness reflect off.

 

Side story 1 about my ring: I just looked down to marvel at my rings and their perfection and they weren’t there! I always wear my rings because my mom and Luke told me I was too forgetful to do otherwise…. but oh yeah, I took them off yesterday to pull weeds. Life after marriage is not so glamorous!

Side story 2 about my ring: When I told Luke about the type of ring I wanted, I had a vision but no actual reference. He scoured the internet and finally told me, “you know that ring doesn’t exist right?” I said, “it has to, it’s what I want.” Fast forward 6 months and we’re in New York in January 2014 for a wedding when Luke asks me if I want to run an errand with him. I couldn’t imagine what kind of errand he had to run in New York but I agreed. He took me to a walk up apartment in what appeared to be the ghetto only to find a custom jewelry designer who could make the exact ring I wanted! When I asked Luke about her he said “I know you’ve always dreamed of living in New York and whether or not that dream comes true, I want you to always have a piece of New York with you.” Swoon. If that’s not romantic I don’t know what is. After that trip to New York I was sure that we were getting engaged any minute. Fast forward 3 months to when Luke was ready to buy the ring but when he emailed the jeweler he got an automatic reply “Am on vacation for the next 2 months.” Can’t even be mad at someone who can vacation for two months and still afford to live in NYC.So fast forward another 3 months to when Luke was finally able to get a hold of her, pick out a diamond and design the ring and  we’re back on top of the mountain newly engaged!

When we got back to the car I asked Luke if we could call my mom first. This is how the conversation went:

Me: Hi mom guess What????!!!

Mom: What?

Me: We’re engaged!!!!

Mom: What are you doing in Paige?

Me: No, mom, we’re engaged.

Mom: I know you’re in Paige but why?

Me: Mommmmmmmmmmm, Luke asked me to marry him and I said yes!

Mom: Are you sure that’s what he asked you?

Me: Yes, mom, god act excited.

Mom: I am but I am so confused. Did he give you a ring, is this for real?

Me: OK, well we got a million other people to call so I’ll call you back.

Talk about not getting the reaction you were expecting. I think we blindsided her and she was in complete shock.We were expecting crying, shouting, and pure joy and my poor mom couldn’t say a word. She called back later after everything registered and settled in and she was excited then, but from her initial reaction I really thought she didn’t want me marrying Luke!

We called everyone else and got the reactions we were expecting and then we set off to enjoy the day!

When we got home I went to find Dani and found her in bed still asleep from the night before – oh to be 22 and able to party until 3 and sleep past noon. I shook her awake, and she said with a confused frown “I thought I was going hiking with you?” I didn’t say anything just jammed my ring in her face. She jolted awake, sitting straight up and gave me the biggest hug. I was so happy she understood. Had I come home ring-less I would still be the biggest jerk on the face of the planet.

Luke and I were scheduled to go to his cousin’s birthday pool party. Luke said we could ditch it and continue our celebration but I knew Shaina was going to be there so I insisted we go so I  could show off my ring.

 

Later that night we went to Citizens Public House for dinner to celebrate and had one of the best meals of our lives. Who knows if the food was actually good but they gave us a free bottle of champagne and every one in the restaurant was genuinely excited for us. Before our waiter knew we were celebrating our engagement I asked him to take our picture. I placed my hand on the table to show off my ring and the waiter moved a bottle of water in front of my hand to get it out of  my face. I picked my hand up and waved it for the picture and then the waiter got the idea. He disappeared and returned with champagne. They were so nice to us that night that we took both sets of parents back there in the following weeks to celebrate.

The next day Luke took me to Tucson to celebrate with my mom and of course more Champagne was consumed. The engagement triggered a whirlwind year of wedding events and celebrating that we fully enjoyed and totally didn’t expect.