So I'm getting pretty nervous.
Relax, Andy. Your heart is in the right place. All will be fine.
If it makes you feel better, I'll share my proposal story.
My wife and I had been dating off and on for ~2 years. The "off" periods were a little awkward, because we work together at a small hospital. So, everyone was always in our business. Made her self-conscious at first.
Finally, we decided it was put up or shut up time. We knew we wanted to get married. She knew she wanted to get married in the fall--Sept./Oct., and she did not want to be engaged for a long time--9 months to a year, tops. We looked at houses, rings, we talked about kids, $$$, religion, family, careers . . . everything. The plan was to get engaged around Feb. and get married that Sept./Oct.
Well, we had a lot of family gatherings planned around the holidays. I'm not one to be cliche, so I hadn't planned on proprosing at Christmas or anywhere near there. But, I thought about it. It was right. Why wait? Why not do it and let our family share in MORE JOY for the holidays? I spent four hours picking out the stone and setting--and she called me twice while I was there, not realizing what I was up to. Finally got the ring.
We had a tradition while we were dating. She always came to my apartment and helped me put up my tree. I also buy a new ornament to add to the tree every year. So, I told her that since she helped me w/ the tree every year, it was only fair that she get a new ornament, too.
She came over after a particularly bad day at work for tree time, and wanted to see the ornament that I gave her. I kept putting her off, telling her that we would hang it last. As we decorated the tree, we ordered a pizza for dinner. Finally, w/ the tree decorated, she pulls her ornament out of the gift bag w/ a fairly expensive bobble attached. Bearing in mind, this was 3+ months earlier than she expected the possibility of a ring/proposal. Her jaw dropped. As I got down on bended knee . . . DING DONG . . . pizza arrived!
"Go get it, but HURRY BACK!" she said. So, upon my return, my proposal was made on bended knee. Lucky for me (I still feel that way), she said yes!
My (long-winded) point is this: It wasn't "perfect," but it was from the heart. I still love to tell that story, and I remember it like yesterday. It was one of the wisest choices and best days of my life! We are now approaching 5 years, we have a beautiful 2-year-old son, a wonderful home, and . . . BREAKING NEWS . . . another baby on the way! I just found out that I'm going to be a Daddy once more--the best 'job' I've ever had!
Love her like there's no tomorrow, share everything w/ her, and immerse yourself in every day that you have together. God bless.