Where to begin...
We found a house we like, a fixer-upper ranch--no stairs!!!---in a nice neighborhood, with sidewalks. There will be no end to projects for the next few years but we'll be able to walk to friends' houses, parks, trails, and playgrounds. The house almost doubles our living space and it already has established landscaping and garden beds so I don't need to start from scratch again as we did with this house.
The sale of our little blue house is set to close on the 16th and if all goes well we should close on our new place by the end of November or beginning of December. Not sure which will come first, the arrival of baby Olive or a move across town, luckily we can rent our current place through December if needed.
We haven't really started packing yet, the appraiser comes to our house this afternoon and we had our inspection of the new home yesterday, and I think I've been waiting for these pieces to come together before filling boxes. And then there's the fact that I'm not suppose to do much more than spend a good chunk of time with my feet up each day.
So its a little overwhelming.
And yet it feels like it was meant to be. Just as our house sold without being listed the home we hope to purchase was not yet on the market. The woman who owned it had started to turn two of the four bedrooms into a master suite, when her life took a u-turn to New Mexico for a job. She planned to hire a contractor to either finish the job or revert it back to a four bedroom before listing it; yet due to an inside connection we were able to preview the house.
We saw the potential as soon as we drove up, felt more excited after seeing the layout, and after going back and forth about our ability to take on a project house at this time, with a new baby coming and all, as opposed to a turn-key ready one, we decided to make an offer to buy the house as is.
Call us crazy but we think we can do it.
This way we can create the master suite we want, on our own time, while living in the rest of the house. Its a former duplex turned into a single family home, so the bedroom sets are on opposite side of the one-level house. When (if) we move in next month (gulp) we'll live in the two bedrooms on the right side, along with a family room, full kitchen and living room, more space than we have now, and block off the other two bedrooms until we can deal with them. The bathroom on the side under-construction still works, even if the drywall has been stripped and the plumbing will need to be redone. The fact is we will have two toilets, so you will no longer find me pacing the living room waiting for the door to our one bathroom to open.
Oh, and I almost forgot one of the best perks of this new house, it has a detached two car garage, a rare find for this neighborhood. This gives Nick a workshop and our cars a snow-free home for the long Alaskan winters. The garage needs some work too, you know like doors that open, but the structure is sound. Which is true for the house as well, the roof and the foundation are in excellent shape, most of the work needed is all cosmetic.
So its not a done deal, we still have a few hurdles ahead, but its progress in the right direction. I'm still not sure how the timing of it all will work, how Elias will handle the change, or to which house we will (hopefully) bring Olive home, but somehow, someway, everything will happen.
As we wish.
How thrilling!
Posted by: Blanche | 11/05/2009 at 10:46 AM
Fingers and toes crossed for all to work out "as you wish," Buttercup. ;-)
Posted by: Niksmom | 11/05/2009 at 10:50 AM
I think you can do it, too! You have a history of taking on way more than is possible - and doing it - and surviving the process. Go for it! It sounds like the house has the potential to be just what you want, and living in a half-finished house while you work on it is an Alaskan tradition.
We'll cheer you on.
Posted by: Linda in Oregon | 11/05/2009 at 11:41 AM
Of course you can do it!! Good fortune is knocking on your door and it's so deserved- it's about time the pendulum swung the other way!
congrats! I'm so happy for you, N, E, O and your new home!
Posted by: alison | 11/05/2009 at 11:45 AM
Hi Christy,
I have been reading your posts for well over a year now, and I don't ever really comment, but I had to say how happy I am for you. It is so wonderful that you have reached your pregnancy milestone and that you get to have a more typical experience this time around. I am really filled with happiness for you and your family. You seem like a great person who really deserves all the best.
Posted by: Sarah | 11/05/2009 at 05:33 PM
We'll help!
Posted by: Stacey | 11/05/2009 at 05:33 PM
GOOD LUCK! I am glad you found a home that you like. It's hard to find something perfect sometimes, so that's great.
Posted by: massageon | 11/06/2009 at 06:31 AM
Linda,so true that its an Alaskan tradition to live in a work-in-progress home. My relative in Seward is still working on finishing his even though he's been in it for years now:)
Sarah, thank you so much for your sweet words:)
You're on my list Stacey!
Posted by: Christy | 11/06/2009 at 08:45 AM
Huge thumbs up!!
Posted by: Brooke | 11/06/2009 at 01:10 PM
Exciting times!! New house sounds great!!!
We just bought our first house and settlement is to be 10 days before my 3rd baby is due. I am sure there will be some crazy busy times ahead, but I figure that if I am going to 'complete' my family, I'll do it in style with new home, new baby, the works all at once ;-).
Posted by: Dianne | 11/06/2009 at 01:25 PM
Two bathrooms!! That's the best news ever. xo
Posted by: elizabeth | 11/06/2009 at 04:38 PM