Went to the doctor today, like all the other Mondays, but this time we set a date. Ember Walker Rose will (assuming no excitement between now and then) will be evicted from her current residence on Wednesday, April 12th. A friend sent me a funny string of “if your baby could send you text messages” the other day and this one cracked me up. It really hasn’t been until this past week that I’ve felt so very PREGNANT that all I want to do is flop on the couch and do nothing, but it has certainly happened.

With a history of depression (and family depression), my doctor was concerned about what kind of support I would have around after kiddo arrives. Luckily, my mom is planning to take the week off after the Big Event and stay with me and my aunt is planning to come by during the days on the following week. The Boyfriend will also be in and out, but since we don’t live together, he won’t be on 24-hour call (nor should he be, in my opinion).

I know some things, and one of them is that being cooped up in my house alone (even though I will NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN – thanks for all the reminders) is a great way for me to end up depressed and miserable even without a newborn turning me into a zombie.

So my smart friends who have had their own children and my doctor have suggested I have a network of people to call upon, and I happen to think some of you might be those people. Whenever I’ve had friends with new babies, I assumed they wanted people to leave them alone, but it seems that is not the case. So here are two great options if you’d like to help:

1. Meal Train – There’s a handy-dandy little website that helps organize the onslaught of pot luck dinners that arrive during one of these Life Events called Meal Train. If you’d like to sign up for a day to bring dinner to myself and this tiny person (and whatever family might be there at the time), you are welcome to do so here (http://www.mealtrain.com/trains/gq4m5o)

2. SOS List – There will be times that I need people and I won’t know who to call (or the three people I do know to call are all busy). Would you like to be on my list when all I want to do is take a shower and have someone hold this baby? Would you be available to come and sit with me so I’m not alone and talking to my cats as my only friends? Please feel free to let me know that you would like to be on my SOS list. Especially helpful – I’ll be on maternity leave for 16 weeks so if you’re a teacher, stay-at-home-mom, or have a flexible schedule, make sure to remind me that you can be a DayLight SOS Member instead of just an after-5pm SOS Member.

NOTE: DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE ALREADY ON THE LIST. Remind me, please.

3. General Check Ins – I hear from other moms that sometimes you don’t even realize you need people or contact with the outside world until you’re way past sane. Check in on me if you haven’t heard anything lately – blog-wise, facebook, etc. Make sure I’m not melting down in silence. I will be painfully honest, don’t worry.

Depending on how kiddo does, the doctor says there is a 50/50 chance she may end up in the NICU due to her size and being a little early. I’m sure I’ll update here either way, but we may not be home immediately. This will shift the timing of plans. I repeat to myself: I am not in charge.

Thanks to everyone who is excited. I can’t believe I’m actually going to have a tiny person in less than 3 weeks. None of it seems like A Real Thing That Is Happening, and from what I hear from my pals, it may never feel that way entirely.