So...Matt and I got engaged this past Saturday! I could not be happier. I am the luckiest person in the world. Seriously though, I must have really done something right in life. Here's the story...
For Christmas Matt surprised me with plans for a weekend away at the Ritz-Carlon in Tyson's Corner. We have both been working extra so I have been looking forward to the weekend everyday since he told me about it. In the back of my mind I thought he might surprise me and propose but then I found 20 reasons why he wouldn't. I had a patient on Friday whom I was discussing my trip with and she said, "people have told that me I have a gift of predicting the future, and I think he's going to propose this weekend." I told her that I didn't think that he was going to but thanked her for her kind thoughts. On the way home from work on Friday, I called my mom and told her about the patient and the reasons why I thought he wouldn't and she just said, "Amanda, just enjoy the moment." So I went into it with an open mind and decided that I would just go with anything that happened.
We left for the hotel around 6pm and drove down Route 7 towards Tyson's Corner. I love car trips with Matt, we have great conversations and then sometimes just feel comfortable listening to music and enjoying our thoughts. For some reason, I was becoming more nervous the closer we got to The Ritz. We pulled up to the Valet parking and immediately were in a different world. In Winchester, we seldom hear the words, "valet," "bell captain," "concierge," "turn-down service," "madame," etc. I soon became accustomed to the constant pampering. The service was extraordinary, we never wanted for anything. There was always someone there to assist you and make you feel at ease. We checked into the hotel and Abi the Bell Captain assisted us with our bags upstairs. In the room I found a dozen red roses waiting for me. I have gotten many flowers from Matt previously but never roses. I should have known then. We got settled in the room and tried to figure out what we were going to do about dinner. In the meantime we wanted to have a drink and attempting to be thrifty we brought some beer and wine with us. The fridge in the room was the mini-bar so we called housekeeping and they brought our own personal mini-fridge for the room. Now that's service!
Turned down with chocolates and a menu to hang on the door for morning room-service
Before dinner (still the "girlfriend")
The view from the 17th floor was pretty awesome
In the mall
Trying not to shoot out any eyes
Cheers!
So pampered!
We woke up around 9am and Matt put a special playlist from the IPOD on and jumped up and started to get ready. Breakfast came around 9:15am. The cart looked so delicious, I couldn't wait to dig in. We poured mimosas and had a wonderful breakfast. We had our normal discussions involving politics, religion and relationships. Matt was discussing an interesting story about London when the phone rang. We looked at each other like, "who would call us here." He picked up the phone and confusingly said, "ok." He hung up the phone and said, "they said our 10am amenity is here and I am right outside." I thought that was a little weird at first but Matt got a special package for the weekend so I just figured it was part of that. He opened the door and there was someone there with another cart. He stepped out for a moment which I thought was to tip her and then rolled the cart into the room. There were 2 plates covered by metal plate covers and a large folder. He takes the cover off the first plate and there are beautiful chocolate covered strawberries with The Ritz logo on them. He picked up the folder and was leafing through the coupons the hotel had given us for the mall. "This must be part of our package, I really thought we were going to get this when we checked in." "I wonder what's under this other one." Matt slides the plate towards me and I immediately get really nervous. I looked at him and took the cover off the plate. There was the ring box. I immediately put my hands over my face and started crying. Matt said a bunch of things, something about wanting the spend the rest of his life with me. It is really blurry what he said, he might have to fill me in later. He said, "should I get down on my knee?" I said, "you better!" He got down and asked if I would marry him and I said "of course!" I think by that time there was so much surprise and emotion that neither of us were really grasping that I had yet to open the box and see the ring and Matt didn't hear my response to his question. I opened the box and the ring was beautiful! Matt said, "so will you?" I said, "I said, of course!!!!" We spent the morning discussing how he had woven intricate lies so I wouldn't find out what was going on (our rule is we can only lie about surprises for each other, so it's ok.)
I called my parents first and they were both very happy. They have liked Matt from day one and have grown to love him like the son they never had. When I first started dating Matt, the first time I brought him home my Mom told me, "don't screw this up!" After he made the picture book for me our first Christmas, she told me I had to marry him. At the time I was like, "Ok Mom, let's just take this one step at a time." Matt and I took things one step and a time and now we get to build our lives together.
I called my sister next and she did not answer her phone. In the spirit of surprise I left a message sounding ominous and said she needed to call me back. She did about an hour later and was totally surprised and so excited. Sometimes I think that Steph likes Matt more than she likes me and I think she is very excited to invite him to the family.
While I was waiting for Steph to call back I called Kelly and she was so excited for me. Kelly was engaged 2 weeks ago in Myrtle Beach at the beautiful Marriott Hotel in a similar fashion to which Matt and I became engaged. Because Matt had planned this trip in December, when he found out about Kelly and Mike, he thought to himself, "if this isn't an indication that Kelly and Amanda are soulmates, I don't know what is."
I waited to call and tell everyone else because I wanted to tell them in person but it's hard to keep things on the DL with Facebook around but what are you going to do? I appreciate everyone who wished me congratulations, it really meant a lot.
Minutes before I am no longer the "girlfriend"
The beautiful strawberries
We had massage appointments at 1:30 so we headed down to the spa. The robes in the spa were SO comfortable. So soft and fluffy, I meant to buy one before we left but I forgot. We got there about an hour early to go into the spa and steam room before our massages so Matt and I split up and went to our respective locker rooms. I went into the locker room and decided I really didn't want to sit in the sauna because it was 194 degrees in there and I just don't see how that's healthy, the last thing I needed was to pass out on the best day of life. I didn't want to go into the steam room because I didn't want to sweat. I decided I was happy to sit and read a magazine. Right before our massages, matt and I met in the "relaxation room." Matt wasn't in there when I went in so I grabbed a magazine and started flipping through. Matt came in a few minutes later and told me that my Mom had called the spa to find us and let us know that she had arranged for a Town Car to take us on a midnight tour of DC that evening. WOW! Could this day get any better? Yes, it could because I was about to get an amazing massage from Nathalie, a French massage therapist that had studied in Japan for several years. Nathalie had a very thick accent and was very difficult to understand but her hands were gold. She had such a sense of tissue, I could only dream of having hands that skilled. After the massages, Matt and I went shopping in Tyson's II and when I say shopping, I mean walking around and gawking at how exorbitantly things are priced. Still fun though.
After the mall, we went back to the room to rest before dinner. After our nap, we got all fancied up and went to dinner at the Steakhouse in the hotel. It was so delicious. I had risotto with truffle essence. The service was stupendous. When I was in the bathroom the server asked if dinner was a special occasion. Matt mentioned that we were engaged that morning and the server said in his middle eastern accent, "oh, that is the most special!" After dinner, he brought out a plate that said "Congratulations" with our after dinner drinks. It's all about the attention to detail.
No longer the "girlfriend"
Very thoughtful
While we waited for our Town Car, we had a couple drinks at the bar then went upstairs to get some warm clothes for the trip.
He looks good in a suit doesn't he?
Love you, my fiance!
LOVE being chauffeured!
The initial plan was for Tarij to drive us around the city to see the sites but when we realized we could get so close with no one around we really wanted to walk. He dropped us off at the Lincoln Memorial and we walked to the Air and Space museum. It was so lovely, we felt like we were the only people in DC. He picked us up after our walk and we drove around the city for about another hour or so. It was so cool to see the nightlife from a different perspective.
SO beautiful at night
love him
I'm wearing the pashmina Steph
So basically, the weekend could not have been anymore wonderful. I love how much thought, effort and planning went into the whole ordeal. It could not have been more perfect.
Now, the ring. I love it. Matt bought the diamond separately from the setting. The setting is Scott Kay, I think it's wonderfully unique and he did a great job picking it out. The diamond is conflict-free which is really important to me. He designed the ring without any input from me and I'm glad he has such good taste.
I love you Matt. I am so glad we are taking this step together. I could not imagine anyone who is more perfect for me than you. I look forward to these next few months of planning. I also am looking forward for Matt to become an official part of the Sauer family and me to become an official part or the FitzSimmons and Court family. I love you all and I can't wait for the party!
2 comments:
Congratulations guys! Jeff an I are very happy for you. Enjoy!
Best Blog yet! I know I have already said it, but congrats again. ps this is nick
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