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That’s right. A human exited my body last Monday. Unfortunately, he did not exit the body the way I had planned. This was not the birth that God intended. As in, we picked the birthday, went to the hospital the night before to get the ball rolling, and induced labor via drugs the next morning. All because A) I am a control freak, and B) we were afraid the baby would be gigantic due to the fact that I had the d’betes during pregnancy.

So we did all that, and I contracted and cried and eventually got Man’s Greatest Invention, which I have taken to calling the epidural. And still the baby didn’t want to come out so I ended up with Major Abdominal Surgery, which is what I like to call my C Section, because it sounds more dire than just a little ole every day C Section.

And because I had Major Abdominal Surgery, resulting in New Life, I am pretty much off my feet for the forseeable future. I can only stand up for about ten minutes at a time before the incision starts burning and then I sit down again. And because I can only stand about ten minutes at a time, and I spend the rest of my time staring at my baby and feeding it, I am unable to cook meals.

Enter: everyone else. My mother brought meals. My friends are dropping in periodically with meals. We are eating better than ever. We’ve had chicken pot pie, enchiladas, ribs, cheesy potatoes, homemade mac and cheese, biscuits and gravy, egg casserole, banana muffins, pepperoni and sausage penne, and the list goes on. Jealous, aren’t you? It’s totally worth nine months of pregnancy and Major Abdominal Surgery to eat like this with no effort of your own.

So take this advice to heart. Next time your friend has a baby, TAKE HER FOOD. She will appreciate you and that food until the end of her days, and when she’s on her feet again you will be able to call in just about any favor in the world and she’ll be obliged to help.

And, if you make this, the Chicken Pot Pie my mama brought, you’ll be in extra good graces.

COUNTRY STYLE POT PIE

• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 4-5 small red potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1 small roasting chicken (I suggest cooking it first in the crock pot – you’ll have extra for another meal – you only need 3 cups for this one.)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 Tbsp butter
• 6 Tbsp flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups cream
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp sage

Cook the carrots and potatoes in a small amount of water in a sauce pan until barely tender.

Sauté the onion in the butter in a medium/large sauce pan.

Add the flour to onion/butter for the white sauce. Add the chicken broth, cream and spices.

Cook until slightly thickened.

Layer the vegetables, then the 3 cups diced cooked chicken and the frozen peas to the carrots and potatoes.

Layer in a 9 x 13 baking dish: first, the chicken, then the vegetables, then the sauce.

Top with a single pie crust.

This is fine comfort food. And trust me, your friend and her newly size-increased family will need some comforting. Plus, it’s just good ju ju to do this kind of thing. You never know when you’ll need someone to bring you a pot pie of your very own — Major Abdominal Surgery or not.