The year of firsts PART ONE

After Thanksgiving on November 29th 2011,Mike FINALLY asked me to be his girlfriend!!!  Thus began an eventful year of firsts!!! First up was Christmas!!  Mike was trying to pry me for ideas for gifts but I wouldn't break, until I accidentally told him how excited I was to get a snow globe from my mom.  He thought he was so clever in finding out something he could get me.....until he found out that I collect the Disney Princess snow globes, not just any old snow globe.  So imagine Mike's surprise when I let him know BEFORE I opened his present, that I only collect Disney globes?  Well needless to say it started a wonderful new tradition for us to start collecting snow globes from him.

Next was first Valentines Day.  Now this was kind of weird because we had only been official for about 3 months.  It was still one of the most wonderful days, mostly just because I got to spend it with him :)

AND WE GOT OUR FIRST PUPPY COOPER!!! 

Shortly after Valentines Day was my 23rd Birthday.  I wasn't expecting much because honestly, Birthdays have always been something that I didn't want people to go all out on me.  Mike surprised me with the most beautiful Calla Lilies I had ever seen.  I don't even remember telling him that Calla Lilies were my favorite flower!!!

My most favorite "first" was our first big trip together.  His cousin Andrew and fiance Aley had just moved to New York and suggested we go and visit them.  Because of his parents generous hearts and love we were able to go see them in the city.  We went to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, A YANKEES GAME, Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and the Empire State Building.  While we were visiting all of these places, and seeing all the souvenirs, we were trying to figure out what our "thing" would be that we buy whenever we go on trips together, we saw all the typical things, magnets, key chains etc. but we weren't empresses with any of those, until we spotted the Christmas Ornaments!!!!  One of my favorite sites to see was on top the Empire State Building at night.  We got to see freedom tour lit up, the statue of liberty lit up, times square in its full glory and the city beaming below us.  After what seemed like forever on top of a swaying tower thousands of feet in the air, I was ready to get down.  Mike kept taking laps around the building though.  After much irritation, and freezing fingers, Mike finally stopped in front of  me and pulled out a box.  At first a freaked out a little but it was quickly replaced knowing he wouldn't propose so soon.  When he opened it the most beautiful Sapphire ring with a diamond halo was staring me in the face.  Mike had decided to get me a promise ring.  Not only had he got me a promise ring but it was his mothers that she had offered him to give to me.  I can't even begin to tell you how my heart would swell every time I looked down at my gorgeous ring.  His mother loved me and approved of me enough to offer me a family heirloom!