Question About Recent AA Order

I see on Boeings main page they have a statement regarding American Airlines order for 42 787-9’s (http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q4/081015b_nr.html).

My question is, is this their first order for the aircraft? I did check the Boeing order book history and didn’t see anything. The reason I ask, is that I seem to have a memory about a discussion (most probably on here) on how AA were going to apply their trademark ‘polished metal’ scheme to a composite shell. If this discussion did take place, was it just based on an ‘if and when’ scenario, or was it due to an actual order they had made? Thanks in advance.

Sy