I have been gone for awhile. I know, I know.  But I’m back with awesome news–

WE. ARE. ENGAGED!!!

B proposed on September 3rd on the field at Camden Yards in front of the kids, my best friend and her husband!

I have to admit, I thought something was “up” when three weeks before he randomly mentioned we should take a tour of the stadium where we met a little over three years ago… but I went along with it anyways.

I vaguely remember touring the stadium when I was young but this tour was much more thorough and it was private, B called the stadium ahead of time and set everything up. It was just the six of us, which was very cool.

Thinking that this might be the big day, I was a nervous wreck the whole week leading up, and especially the morning of. On top of that, the weather called for it to be cooler due to hurricane Hermine, but it ended up being kind of warm but very windy on the field. So, here I was dressed for cooler weather (in jeans and ankle boots) feeling like I was going to pass out from nerves, heat exhaustion or both.

After touring the stadium and the dugout, the tour guide asks if we have any questions, and offers to take our picture. Thinking we were going to take a big group picture, I walk up out of the dug out onto the field. B puts his arm around me and steers me away from the group, towards home plate. He delivered a very sweet, shaky speech (ahh!) and then dropped to his knee. Even though I thought it might happen , I was still shocked. I couldn’t believe the man I love was asking me to spend the rest of his life with me. I still get butterflies.

Of course, I said yes, and the kids and my friends rejoiced. I then walked around dumbfounded and on cloud 9, staring at my amazing ring for the next hour or so. (Actually, I still haven’t stopped staring at my ring.) Camden Yards gave us an awesome certificate and some cool souvenirs to commemorate the day which was very cool.

We were all starving when the tour was over and B suggested going to a local restaurant. When we got there, every person that was at the game the night we met–plus significant others and their kids (who were born since then)  were at a table outside on the water. THAT was so sweet and special. It was so sweet of B to keep this a surprise and coordinate everything, and so thoughtful to have the people that saw the relationship from the second we met.

We had an awesome lunch and then B, the kids and I, met my best friend who works at the local aquarium and she gave us an AWESOME behind the scenes tour. We got to see so much awesome stuff and the kids were amazed. Of course, Emily was ecstatic for us, and at that point it still didn’t feel real. I’m pretty sure I floated around the building that day. It’s still settling in, over a week later.

Since the engagement, I’ve jumped into wedding mode full force. We already have our date, 5/13/17 and knowing that’s only 8 months away– actually 8 months TODAY!!– I’ve hit the ground running. So far we’ve booked our venue, and are in talks with food and photography, the next most important things in my book. I am so excited for this next chapter and over the moon to officially become the kids stepmom and B’s wife.

We are paying for nearly everything ourselves, so I’m sure this will be “a learning experience,” as they say. I’m trying to look at it as a big party with our closest family and friends, which helps take some of the stress and pressure off. This celebration and the events leading up have the power to bring people together (which I very much hope happens), and it’s already allowed B and I to see how many people love and support us and our family.

I’ll add some pictures when I get home, but for now it’s back to work!!

xo,

The Future Mrs. E