We matched on Tinder in August 2020, right in the middle of COVID, and had our first date that September at DeYoung Family Zoo. With the extra time that came from lockdown, we kept seeing each other—first every other weekend, then every weekend, and eventually making trips to see each other during the week, too. By December 2020, Derek made it official and asked Aaliyah to be his girlfriend. Not long after, Derek moved to Green Bay for work, making it much easier for us to spend time together. We eventually moved in together, added another cat to the family (bringing the total to two), and a few short years later—on September 30, 2024—Derek proposed. Two months after getting engaged, we found out we were expecting our baby girl. In August 2025, we welcomed Saylor Ruth Klarich into the world. Now, we’re getting ready to say “I do,” and we can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you.