Our story starts like most of everyone's, well maybe not. I come across this tall dark handsome man on Tinder in the summer of 2014. Our first date was at a bar on Division street in Bucktown. I knew that moment he was somebody I could spend the rest of my life with.
It took me moving to Hong Kong in January 2016 (yeah seriously I had to move 8,000 miles away to get his attention!) before our story picks up speed. Having never flown longer than a few hours, Eric jumped on a last-minute flight to Hong Kong. On his last day in Hong Kong with me, he made sure I knew I had more reason to come back to Chicago. July 2, 2016 he picked me up at the airport home from Hong Kong. When I saw him, I just knew, it was all going to change. And amazing change it did!
October of 2016, we took an amazing trip to St. Martin. I learned many new things about Eric, such as his HUGE fear of sharks and inability to swim when thinking about them. I also learned he wanted a new pup almost much as I did. Our last day on the island we went to SXM Paws shelter. I quickly fell in love with a sweet, shy, timed, little girl named Moxie. With a little convincing from Eric, and a few weeks later, this darling flew from St. Martin to join us in Chicago.
December 2, 2017 at 11:15 am, Eric FINALLY asked me to marry him.
A special thanks to my Dad, if it wasn't for him I would have waited longer. When Eric asked my Dad for my hand in marriage, he told him his plan of proposing on our upcoming trip. My Dad then says, "that will be good, we all expect it to happen then". Needless to say Eric moved it up a few weeks.I couldn't ask for a more perfect proposal. The weather was one of those odd warm winter days. We walked Moxie along the lake front on the north side. I sat down to enjoy the view and a random saxophone player. Eric sat down next to me, leaned over an asked me to marry him. I was in such shock, I had nothing to say. After all the tears (including Eric’s) we went to Heaven on Seven on Wabash to celebrate over a few beers and gumbo.
December 2018 we took the most epic trip to Hong Kong and Thailand. It was an amazing time of adventures, hiking, shopping, dinning and just spend time together. Little did we know at the time, I was holding on to a secret that I didn't even know of.
February 19, 2018, Eric drags me to the immediate care doctor for a cough I couldn't shake. The doctor wanted to do a chest ex-ray, with Eric in the waiting room, I went to the ex-ray room. The technician asked me just about 12 times if there was any chance I could be pregnant. For the first few asks I said NO with confidence, as she continued to asked me I got nervous.
She decided to make me take a pregnancy test. After the test I messaged Eric who was in the lobby. His response was "your fine, don't worry so much". I was waiting for somebody to come back, for what seemed hours (probably only 5 minutes) when I was escorted back to my doctors room. She walked in so easily saying "your pregnant". Only the second time I was ever speechless. She asked me if anyone brought me here and I told her Eric's name. She went out to the lobby and called his name. He came in the the room WHITE as a ghost. The ride home was silent until he says "how am I suppose to keep going out Friday and Saturdays". Anyone who knows Eric knows how funny that is. I was now in tears laughing. The secret neither of us knew on our trip, I was actually 9 weeks pregnant.
Alexander (a.k.a. Xander) Eric Johnson was born September 30th at 1:59 am. He was 7 lbs 12 oz and 21 inches and perfectly healthy. Mom and Dad are so much in love already!