Trying to understand my new relationship
Hey everyone! SO, I've been in a relationship with my girlfriend since August. She is 32 and I am 34. We are both settled in out careers. The topic of marriage came up about two months ago and we both established what we are looking for at this point in our lives. We both eventually want to be married and have a family. I told her that I would be open to being engaged when I am finished with my PhD in a year and a half. She said that sounds fine.
I was chatting with her best friend the other night where I was informed that my girlfriend was actually a little annoyed that I wanted to wait a year and a half before getting engaged. My girlfriend doesn't know that I was talking to her best friend regarding this. After hearing this, I was having a casual conversation with my girlfriend and told her that I was willing to be engaged sooner if the relationship was progressing in a way that would allow for that to happen. I told her that I didn't want her to feel as if she had to wait too long to have children, especially since I do not want to be older and starting a family. She told me that sounded nice, but still feels we should take it slow and get to know one another better.
She also mentioned that she isn't going anywhere and that we are clearly both in this with the mindset of it being serious and long term. I didn't have an issue with that, but feel as if what she told her best friend is different from what she told me. Also, she has been going out of her way to spend weekends at my condo, and has cooked two large dinners this month for my entire family. I am also the only guy in the last 10 years that she has brought home to meet her parents and family. Her friends told me that she is so in love with me and they have never seen her act the way she does with a guy the way she acts with me.
Am I receiving mixed messages or just overthinking this?