We can't wait to party with you!

On a clear, mild night in August 2014, mutual friends were invited to a '20s costume party. Distinguished among the few who actually dressed for the event, Brendan wore an aviator costume, while Megan turned out in a black dress with gold headband. Since both were aspiring teachers, the plastic cup cocktail crowd obliviously parted ways for the two to get to know each other. The instantaneous intrigue between Brendan and Megan had layers -- both grew up within the large, sparse middle-America, both shared an appreciation of The Decemberists, and an especially winning moment arose when Megan chose Brendan's card among 11 entrants in a Cards Against Humanity round. The coffee date followed up days later at an independent corner shop, mere blocks away from the party house. Upon entering, Brendan propped up a hapless house plant against the door it was intended to hold up, while a friend and the staff inside chuckled at the lost cause. Romcom sparks flew 10 minutes later when Megan made the same futile gesture with the hapless house plant upon entering. The early years of their relationship were intense for both as Brendan navigated three jobs while aspiring for (and later consumed by) grad school, while Megan wrapped up her teaching degree and secured her first (and then second) teaching position while also attending grad school. But their deep love held them together through the trials and tribulations to later achieve their ultimate goal of becoming parents and creating a family all their own.

With the Montana sapphire ring inherited from Megan's grandmother, Isabel, no prohibitive jewelry store price prevented moth-in-wallet Brendan from proposing to Megan. No, instead it was a cloud of gnats. Ring in pocket, Brendan was ready to propose during one of their 'let's walk in every Tacoma public park' life quest jaunts. But a cloud of gnats appeared during two brief slowdowns to benches. Brendan found these swarms ominous, and waited until the next time. After a satisfying Sunday seafood brunch on a brisk, yet tolerable November day, Brendan proposed to Megan on a park bench overlooking the lovely Tacoma skyline. This date in history happened 10 days before Calliope came into the world, so we're saying there was a witness to the momentous occasion.