So...is that it...?

After Erik and I put an offer on a house last week, we received the most precious counter offer than I had ever expected. Not only did she hand-write a letter to us (which her Realtor scanned and emailed to ours), but she wrote carefully and patiently about the house's history, it's previous owners, it's scrapes and cuts, and it's Band-Aids. This precious 80-year old woman continued to write about how much we will bring to Austin from DC, and how much she would like for us to raise our family in this house. She also spoke of the wonderful neighborhood, and how there are many new families and a "baby parade" every day of the week. She is moving to CA to be close to her daughter, and she is glad that we're moving to Austin to be closer to family, too. I almost cried it was so touching. And it's almost like she knew exactly what my anxiety points were and calmed them like a mother would (how very Austin of her to be so thoughtful).

Needless to say, it was very hard to negotiate business and play "hardball" with an 80-year old woman that is sweeter than your grandma!! As our Realtor said, "she is very proud of this house and is probably not going to let it go easily, so go up a little in price, but stay pretty low and see if she'll come down a little more...then we'll see - we can always make another counter when she counters or refuses."

But here's the funny thing: she didn't counter. She accepted our offer, and we're "under contract"! I almost fell over I was so stunned. It all happened so fast! We thought we'd be at it for at least another week of back-and-forth. But instead, we're under contract and awaiting an inspection. We sent a big-ol' check in the mail for what's called "earnest money", and I guess now we just wait and see how the inspection turns out.

My dad is going to accompany the inspector in our place, and he's also going to measure the rooms for us while he's there. If you couldn't tell from the video, I originally did not think that was the house we were going to buy or I would have been taking much more careful footage and measurements (and talking very excitedly!). Who knew?!

In addition to the inspection, we also have to get a quote for homeowners insurance (scary!). And of course, there are other steps, too, but I'll let you know more when we get to those.

So it's not the ah-hah! house that I imagined, but I love it more and more everyday, and I'm having a great time talking about potential changes with Erik. If we end up getting this house, I think it will be fun to work creatively together in a way in which we've never done. Arranging furniture in a rental is so different that tearing down walls in a place that you own together (with your credit and financial life at stake!). I look forward to watching Erik's creative side go wild. We don't have much money to play with (at all actually), but that makes it even more fun!

Cheers to the process and whatever it may bring us! It's an unpredictable adventure thus far!

Raw Footage

Below is a video of the inside of the house (link wasn't working yesterday, so I couldn't add it).

Like I said, the inside is not a gem...but it's the location and the "potential" (and the trees and the sqft) that matter on this one.

Enjoy :)

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Mueller? Mueller? (or was that Bueller...?)

We're back from Texas. Again.

We had a memorial service/family reunion for my uncle Eddie who died last month. It took so long to have the service because we had to locate all of his "estranged" kids, and do other complicated things that I won't expand upon. The important thing to mention is that a gaggle of kids that have never met before got together and bonded like nothing I've ever seen. Oh, and not to mention, they are spitting images of their father, and most of them had never met him. It's really, really crazy how even mannerisms transfer to your children without even being around them.

Not only did I meet the only cousins I have (besides the ones on my mom's side, all of whom I have never met...), but we also saw both of my siblings with all of their children, in full action, out at a country BBQ. My brother is pregnant with his fifth, and my sister is pregnant with her 4th (and my other sister, who was not there, is possibly going to get pregnant again this summer- her oldest is in high school!) - all I can say is respect, respect, respect. The fact that they still get up EVERY morning and do it all over again is amazing to me...I have nothing but straight-up respect.

That's just 4 of them (my brother has twins!!!)...

Two of my siblings (and Dad).

And oh how productive our trips are to Texas! They are completely sleepless, but productive (no sympathy from Ravyn there... And did I mention that we saw her bundle of joy, too?!). We saw AT LEAST 30 houses in 2 days. I saw that many on the last trip in 3 days, but if you double the people (Erik came this time), we found that you can do it in 2 days!

So we've pretty much decided upon an area. Unless something ridiculously awesome comes up in a more desired area, we are good to continue a more narrowed search which is a tremendously easier hunt from afar. The neighborhood is called Delwood in an area otherwise known as Mueller. It's named after the Robert Mueller airport that used to be located there (and hence the goofy name of this post). It was decided to move the airport further out and to develop the space much like all the other cities that have ever done this. The result? The houses in that area are rising in value, and now there's lots of shopping. Total re-gentrification, but there's always a good and a bad side where that happens.

But it turned out great for us, because not only did we decide upon that area, but we decided upon a house! We made an offer yesterday on a house that met our specs with regard to the sqft, walkability to things, 40ft+ trees in both yards, 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 living areas, equity-gaining potential and decent schools. Now THAT's a lot to ask for our price-range in a hot area, but we found it!


Notice how I haven't gone on and on about the inside. It's because the inside is nothing to write home about, but there's a lot of potential because the space is big, and the layout is decent. We may be a little embarrassed (or me anyway) at the first couple of gatherings we have with how 80's it is, but I'm sure we'll talk a lot about "our vision" for the house. Too bad we'll be too broke when we get there to do any updates right off, but at least we have a vision to get us through (we'll see what I'm saying when I'm postpartum and hate everything...)!

It's hard to tell what will happen because houses at this price/sqft in this area are flying off the market in 19 days, and ours has been on for like 22, but we'll find out more on Friday!

Holy Guacamole! Where's Pancho? We're moving to Texas!

The Hulk

In my attempt to be "green", I feel that I am slowly becoming the Hulk.

So honestly, I don't know the first thing about the Hulk except that he is green. If I am able to get pregnant, I will be green with nausea, but hopefully I will at least be puking in a very clean and green environment! I'm assuming the Hulk can relate... No?? OK, well maybe others can then...

And so it begins. My subway rides are now consumed by reading a book about all the crap that surrounds me that will ultimately pose a threat to either my baby's or my own life. And while it's not written so dramatically, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. As I look around at the things in my apt that my book says to rid of, I wonder just where on earth do you start? But I am not actually so overwhelmed - I start little by little, enjoying the clean-out process and the learning experience (with a side of panic and confusion).

For instance, my hair products: gotta go. My GOD - I have never read the label of the Bumble & Bumble curl-whatever-whatever, and now that I have, I can't believe I put it in my hair! I hate to be dramatic, but seriously - what is all of that shit?! Whatever it is, it works a miracle on my hair, but it's time to go. Goodbye Bumble & Bumble and hello Burt's Bees. At least Burt's Bees is a little bit cheaper (even if I do look like a hippie with bad hair, but what's new?).

While we had already made the laundry detergent and household cleaning products switch to a more natural brand, we still haven't exactly thrown out the Tilex...it's still there (just in case)...we just don't use it. But it's time to go. Goodbye Tilex and hello vinegar and water.

And what in the hell is this apt floor painted with anyway?? Lead paint I presume (like the rest of the building was until just recently - that's another story about how we had to move out for a week after the outside of the building was sand-blasted into our apt and we all got lead poisoning...did I mention we're moving?!). Thanks to my book, I know where to send a paint chip to get it tested for lead. Honestly, I can't believe I'm doing it either, but it's very important and I'm not messing around with the dangers of this old apt anymore. It was cool for just us, but a developing fetus is most affected by these things.

There are so many things to learn about surrounding plastics and other chemicals, not to mention the right kind of water filters and other things. Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed, but other times I am relieved to have a handbook that tells it like it is and suggests how to "detox" your environment. I look forward to doing as much as possible for once and for all - something I've really wanted to do, and really believe in anyway.

The body is coming along, too. There are obviously many things that have to change about your eating habits once pregnant, like the kinds of fish you eat (if you choose to eat it at all - it's almost easier to avoid it), and not eating deli meat or meat/chicken that is not fully cooked and heated over XX degrees. So that cold chicken breast from the fridge that I just ate for dinner...won't be able to do that much longer.

And then there's the exercise. I have pretty much been exercising 5x/wk for a long time for my health and weight in general, but I have never worked on my abs as you are supposed to do before pregnancy. Not only does it help you to carry and support the extra weight, but it will also aid the birth process to be stronger (there and everywhere). Because my stomach has never been a "problem area", I have never done "crunches". But now I am. We'll just leave it at that.

After having such a regimented diet and workout routine for so long, it's hard for me to believe that my thighs are still not where I want them, and that they will only continue to grow during pregnancy - OMG. But that is something that I am just going to bare by wearing dresses. Thank you to whoever created the dress! I can only control so much, and my thighs have never been one of those things!!

The asthma-thing is coming along, but not as great as I had hoped. I am still completely dependent on a "class-C" inhaler that is most likely dangerous during pregnancy. Yes, it's more important for the mother to breathe, but it's a very scary thing to be purposefully inhaling a toxic substance while very pregnant with the most defenseless of things. My diet has improved my asthma tremendously, but we're not home yet. I hope that a combo of a couple more health appointments and some acupuncture will help me with my severe and sudden attacks.

So plans are coming along well. What's funny is that there really was no plan for all of this, and suddenly working on asthma and throwing out cleaning products has created a reason to have a "pre-pregnancy to-do list" - not exactly what I pictured, but I'm glad I have the option to take my time and be safe. Family "planning".
:)

All is Not Lost

We have been so lucky that our families have gone so long without many losses for years and years. Out of the many family members (especially with divorced and remarried parents), that is a large group of people to have not had many deaths. But this year that changed, and we have now had 3 losses between us.

Earlier this year, we suffered the loss of Erik's grandpa to a plane crash (he was one of the pilots). There aren't really words to describe his grandpa and how he touched people's lives, but if it gives you any idea, the community around for miles and miles submitted editorials to the papers everyday for months after he died, and 900 people attended his funeral. I'm not kidding when I say that I've never met anyone like this man in my life, except that Erik has his exact same gentle nature and spirit - it's true.

And then we were hit with the sad news that we had lost Erik's precious Aunt Peggy after a long, long battle with breast cancer. She fell ill suddenly, and she went very fast. Erik flew out immediately, and I cried and cried as I packed his suitcase because of the suddenness of his departure, but I just kept thinking of how Peggy's family must feel to have lost their wife and mother so fast. I honestly just can't imagine the strength you have to have to get through something like that.

Even though she had cancer for a long time, there was always hope because she was so positive and was such a fighter, and she somehow pulled out of situations that many didn't expect her to survive. So when people assume that her death must not have been a shock because she had been living with cancer, it was still a shock because she had been LIVING with cancer. She still led a full and vibrant life, and she still called Erik on his birthday when she could have been doing countless things (or could have been feeling bad). Even though people may have "expected" it at some point, everyone was still taken by surprise as she fell suddenly ill and was taken so suddenly without much warning.

I didn't know her well, but was able to spend quality time with her at our wedding reception in July that Erik's mother threw for us. She was so kind and peaceful, wise and genuine, and what struck me most was her genuinely positive attitude, and her ability to concern herself with others as opposed to being concerned about herself. It's hard for people who don't have cancer to imagine living with it. But instead of giving me that picture, it helped me to see how her life was moment-to-moment, and yet she was still so selfless, so active and so engaged. Many people healthier than most still don't have the positive attitude or the energy that this woman so outwardly showed. She inspired me to live more fully and more positively. I think she's taught everyone to do that. I was so lucky to be able to fly to CA in a moment's notice to spend time with this wonderful family (my family), and to celebrate the life she lived.

Nancee, if you read this one day, I hope you will contribute your comments publicly about Peggy and her life and beauty.

And then perhaps you remember from a couple of posts ago that we lost my uncle last month - we are flying to TX this weekend for his funeral. Out of his death will come this reunion of people that I never would have seen or met, but that are my family. Because he did not have a relationship with his kids, I did not grow up with those cousins (or any cousins, for that matter). We are all similarly aged, graduating school, getting married and having babies - perfect! Though they had a very hard life being raised without their father, they have incredibly positive attitudes about coming to Texas to meet the family and to make final peace with their birth father. I am proud of my own dad for taking it upon himself to make this happen, and to bring this special group of people together for his brother.

We will also hopefully be meeting our new house while we're in Austin! OK, so we haven't exactly bought a house yet, but after 10 hours or scheduled house hunting coming up, we're hoping to fall in love with something and to get this show on the road!

While I want to be optimistic, I am a little nervous... Unlike the last house hunting trip I made, we do not have a particular area pinpointed, and we've blown our options WIDE open. All bets are off - we have practically no limits. Sounds like it would be easy to work with, but instead, it makes house hunting from a distance incredibly hard. We are considering houses in areas we know nothing about, and you really just can't get a sense for an area unless you can drive or walk through it. So we hope to be quick studies this week, determining whether we think we could handle living a little "further out", or if we are truly city folk and would go nuts without a coffee shop and farmers market down the road.