Even though I can’t tell you specifically the first time I met Alexa, I definitely remember how I felt. The feeling that always came back every time I saw her on campus, at a party or on the big screen at our football games. Anytime one of my friends mentioned her that feeling would always come back. I remember always being mesmerized by those beautiful blue eyes and her kind and loving demeanor. She had the most gorgeous smile and look to her.

It’s crazy to think back before we were dating, I was always asking Cooper, who had the same classes as Alexa, “How is my girl doing?”, “How was she looking today?” It was always crazy to me that I could talk to anyone in the world, but with her it seemed like I had a loss of words. Our conversations back then were brutally short and sometimes awkward. On my end, I just did not want her to realize I had a massive crush on her. All throughout my sophomore and most of my junior year at TCU there were always moments like that. Little did I know she, on the other end, felt the same way.

Finally, during summer 2017, the day came when she texted me out of nowhere, letting me know that she was staying in town, all by herself, and if we were doing anything fun to please let her know. I remember being with Nolan that day and going crazy about the fact that Alexa had texted me out of the blue to basically hang out. In my head, all I had to do was execute. As we continued to discuss the strategy of how not to blow this opportunity, Nolan sat me down and told me, “if you go down this path, call your single career a wrap.” We both knew that Alexa’s the type of girl that is long term and eventually the girl you marry. She had everything going for her, beautiful, smart, dedicated, goal-driven and knew sports just as much as we did.

It took 2 years of knowing each other (and the feelings of those moments) that finally led me to capitalize on the opportunity and invite her to one of our Super Regional games at TCU. She accepted! You won’t believe how excited I was putting her name on the guest list. After the game, I invited her out to get ice cream at Marble Slab Creamery. I remember that date, the endless conversation. We wanted to get to know each other because we hadn’t spoken much over two years. I remember feeling so comfortable just being locked into those beautiful blue eyes. It was a moment that was meant to happen. Everything was flowing so easy and we were really enjoying each other’s company. We had learned so much about each other and it seemed the more and more we spoke the closer we got. You could feel it!

Eventually, I told her that when we win this Super Regional we would throw a party and that she would be invited. In true TCU Baseball fashion, we won the Super Regional and were going to the College World Series for a 4th consecutive year. The party was on and Alexa Shaw was coming. It was a big night for the boys and everyone was in assist mode. We danced the night away, played drinking games, and had a blast. That night was our first kiss and the rest was history.

Our love story began in the Summer of 2017…but it really started in the Fall of 2015. When I moved to Fort Worth and started my freshman year at TCU I was new to everything! New to Texas, new to college, and new to a home where I knew literally no one! One thing that stood out to me from the beginning at TCU was Michael Landestoy. He was this bigger than life, vibrant, athletic, beautiful guy that I always seemed to run in to. At TCU, everyone knew who Michael Landestoy was! To be honest, I was attracted to him from the beginning but he kind of scared me because I felt like he was used to getting any girl he wanted and I was NOT going to be one of those girls!

So, fast forward to the summer of my Sophomore year when I was offered a job, 3 days before I was going home for the summer, as the courtside reporter for the Dallas Wings, a job I couldn’t pass up! I pulled my things out of storage, stayed at the McCullough’s house (my Maid of Honor’s parent’s house) while I figured out where I was going to live, and ended up arranging to sublet Haley’s apartment (my other Maid of Honor) for the summer. (SO thankful for both those amazing girls and their families for helping me) Fort Worth was a very lonely place over that summer, a college town with no college students…except the baseball team who were playing in Regionals. I got the nerve one day and texted Mike to let him know I was in town for the summer, you know, in case there was something going on, wink wink.

A few days later Mike asked if I wanted to come to the Super Regional game at TCU. I was so happy to go watch him play. We won the game and I waited around after, hoping to see him. After waiting for over 30 minutes, I was getting uncomfortable because the only people left were family and girlfriends. I decided I couldn’t wait any longer without looking like a stalker so I texted Mike to thank him for the ticket and let him know I was hoping to see him. He immediately texted me back to apologize, he didn’t know I was waiting for him. He asked if I wanted to go get ice cream.

Well, we talked for hours and hours on that ice cream date. I think we both knew that there was something undeniably special between us! We saw each other as much as possible that summer and he gave me the sweetest gift when he came back to The Fort from the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, a ball signed by the whole team from the last out of the game which he made at 1st base against A&M. That gift meant so much to me, not something you give to a casual date!

In September 2017, we were officially “dating”, Mike came home to my house in California for Thanksgiving and I went to his home in the Dominican Republic before Christmas. We fit into each other’s lives and families perfectly. We were the perfect match, Mike’s calm, easy demeanor balanced my strong, emotional personality. We celebrated each other’s graduations and cheered each other on through our first professional jobs, Mike with the Pittsburgh Pirates and me with NBC Sports Washington. Our long distance relationship wasn’t always easy for me, but I learned to truly appreciate every moment spent together and I believe it is what has helped us communicate so well! Michael Landestoy made me the luckiest girl in the world when he asked me to be his wife in one of my most special places on earth, the rocks of Leo Carrillo State Beach overlooking the ocean, with our families there to celebrate with us! Our love story continues August 21st when I marry my best friend! I look forward to celebrating our marriage with everyone we love and having lots of babies with Mike’s passion, kindness, and smile that lights up the room!