[darkpuppet]

Maybe a way to skirt around the whole "it's not an engagement ring" thing (and you mentioned it's not been quite a year), is to give the ring on the premise of an "early 1st year anniversary gift because it's christmas, and I'm so happy to be with you I couldn't wait any longer."*

that's your way out of the engagement issue, and earns possibly extra points for being so loopy for the girl....

don't worry, with 900 members on the site, we should be able to get you through this.. ;)

*I'm making myself ill