Initializing variables with ExecuteInEditMode

I am trying to create a simple 2d grid. But I want it to be able to be edited in the scene without running the game. The problem is when I reach mNodeArray[ i, j ] = new_node; mNodeArray is not initialized. Does Awake() run before this is called. I have tried a few ways of doing it and have done it before but can't quite figure it out.

 function CreateGrid( max_row : int, max_column : int )
 {
     var start_pos : Vector3 = new Vector3( 0, 0, 0 );
         
     for( var i : int = 0; i < max_row; ++i )
     {
         for( var j : int = 0; j < max_column; ++j )
         {
             var new_node = Instantiate( mNodeObject );            
             //var node_data = new_node.GetComponent( Node );
             
             var pos : Vector3 = Vector3( start_pos.x + mOffsetX * i , start_pos.y, start_pos.z );
             
             // Set name and parent
             new_node.transform.name = ( i.ToString() + "," + j.ToString() );
             new_node.transform.parent = this.transform;
             new_node.transform.position = pos;
                                 
             mNodeArray[ i, j ] = new_node;                
         }
                             
         start_pos.y += mOffsetY;
     }    
 }
 
 function Update()
 {
     if( mIsCreateGrid )
     {
         DestroyGrid();
         CreateGrid( mRow, mNumStrings );
         mIsCreateGrid = false;
     }
     
     if( mIsDestroy )
     {
         DestroyGrid();
         mIsDestroy = false;
     }
 }