The Ryans...

16 weeks in now, and the weeks seem to fly by. Often I'm struck in awe that already we find ourselves going into April, and before I know it, we're going to be finding ourselves with a small, screaming, monster we lovingly and affectionately know as Peanut. But to catch up on the past few weeks...

Earlier this past month we went in for our 12 week appointment--an overall worthless appointment excepting that we know that the Parasite still has a heartbeat, I (Taiga) am O+ in my blood type, and while I am seemingly unhappy that I'm now 25lbs heavier than I have EVER been, my OB continues her endless rant on how the weight gain is a necessary side effect. For those of you who are not familiar with my history, the weight gain has proved the hardest part of the entire pregnancy, that or struggling to keep up on my skis with the rest of the family. The rest of the month has been spent working, studying, sleeping, and awaiting for March 26th--for a date night that Reed had given to me as a present on Christmas.

Date night, as mentioned before, had been a gift that Reed had given me for Christmas per my great obsession with food. The evening was to be spent at a culinary school in Boulder cooking a fixed menu under the supervision of a professional chef; learning, eating, cooking, drinking, and more eating. Perfection in an evening if you were to ask me, and an amazing gift. I left work early to pick up Reed and get to Boulder in time. Reed was, what appeared to me to be curt and grumpy--likely due to having a late night dinner with my family the evening before, and running an injury down to the clinic right when I was supposed to pick him up (he knows I hate running late), but seemed to relax once we got to Boulder and had a shower at the little B & B we were staying at.

The date night dinner was precisely what I had hoped for--an apron on Reed and a menu full of things I've never cooked before. The courses were divided amongst the couples there and we were chosen to prepare the French Onion Soup. Reed used a tool known as a mandolin, where as I sliced with a knife 10 lbs of onions. And after about an hour and a half of cooking we sat down to a family style table lit with candles and devoured the toils of the evening. Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with almonds and fontina, french onion soup with floating guerre croutons, chicken saltimbucca with lemon scented brocolini, and finished with dried cherry and chocolate chunk cookies.

About half way through the soup course Reed started fidgeting in what looked like he had lost his contact. As it would turn out, Reed had not lost his contact, but rather was surprising me with a PROPOSAL. "I hadn't planned on doing this in front of a bunch of people, but I suppose it's fitting. I hope that tonight is one of many to come in our lives together of great food and great company. I hope to spend the rest of my life with you, if you will marry me. Will you marry me?" is pretty much how the whole proposal went, all the while with me sitting there dumbstruck and repeating, "oh my, REED what are you doing? oh my!" and answering with an "of course I'll marry you," rather than the traditional "yes". But what's a girl to do.

Champagne was passed all around, stories of how Reed and I met were told, and delicious cookies were consumed. The ring that he presented me with was an heirloom passed down from his grandfather. When his grandfather asked his grandmother to marry him, he did so with a beautiful diamond shaped gold ring with a small diamond in the center, explaining that when he had the funds he would get her a real diamond. I now wear the "temporary" ring on my finger and the "real diamond" that was given later awaits to be placed in a setting that both Reed and I like. And with that I join the Ryans--Peanut and Sioux in tow.

On the Peanut front, Reed and I are planning a get together--celebration of life's crazy surprises--with friends and family on April 11th. Below you'll see the invites, and the invite extends to anyone who wants to come celebrate with us. We hope to see everyone there. That's really about it for now, no crazy cravings, no obscure aversions, just a little sleepy.