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Matt and I have been looking for a house for almost 3 years now. We currently live in the house that I bought before I met Matt. It's a little ranch, close to downtown, in a "transitional" neighborhood. When I bought it in 2001 the transition was beginning. I would say that the hood is now in phase II. A couple of people have done pretty big additions, quite a few have done renovations but there are still some homes that could use some TLC. This little house is where we lived when we met, when we brought Lola home, then Gunner, got married and is where we prepared for, and had, our first child together. I'm really proud of this home and proud that I bought it when I was young and single. But it is not where we need to be. The people in this neighborhood are wonderful...but we are flanked on 3 sides by not so great apartment complexes. The foot traffic we get are the type that throw their McDonald's bag and Bud Light Lime bottles in the road or, better yet, our yard.

And it is small. It was great for me and Matt and even Lola fit fine. But add another 100 pounds of black dog and baby...and an office for Matt to work in and you have CLAUSTROPHOBIA. And a TIGHT CHEST every time the baby is sleeping and Matt comes home, or moves, or the dogs bark...or move. It just isn't working for us.

Matt has never felt like this is his "home" and has always wanted to live in the country. To live in the country means moving out. Way out. I work downtown, my gym is downtown, my 5:15 a.m. running buddies are downtown. And I have a baby that I don't see enough as it is. How is adding an hour commute time before and after work going to be ok? It isn't.

So we talked, and looked, and talked, and fought and looked, and looked, and looked. And prayed and prayed and prayed. And then we found it. Our perfect compromise. Our meant to be home. We both had a good feeling about it from the time I learned about the house and sent the listing to Matt. We knew not to get our hopes up but this was different - this feeling that "this was the place" had never happened to us before but we both had it now. BOTH of us. I think our realtor is the only other person who understands the poingnancy of that term - "Both of us."

We saw the house and made an offer that night. A long and agonizing 6 days later we hear that our offer has been accepted as is. Yay! But the contract was not signed or dropped off like the seller said it would be. 1, 2, 3 days later, we hear that she wants her attorney to look over the contract. So we wait again and at last hear that we're good. The attorney is fine with this standard NC real estate contract. But again, the contract is not signed or dropped off. Another restless night of sleep and we get the word it is done. The contract is signed - we're on! Now we just have to sell Fenton St...

We clean, put excess furniture in storage, take down personal items and pictures and mentally try to prepare ourselves for the months ahead. We have to have a system: dogs stay outside as much as possible, have Ti come every week to clean while the house is on the market, I do a, b, and c every morning and d, e, and f, every night. Matt has his list. Swiffer, vacuum, mop, mop, mop!!

The house goes on the market at noon on Wednesday. Our first showing is at 1:00 on Thursday. We go under contract 9:00 pm Friday. Say what?!? Yes! Yes! Yes! Fenton St. is under contract!

We are scheduled to close on August 21st and will rent Fenton St. from the new owner through September 18th while the renovations on our new home are being done. We are thankful and thrilled and so looking forward to our fresh start in this new home - that we searched for and dreamt about together. Both of us.