The Best Parts of Being a Stay-at-Home Mama.

• The relative quiet. I can tune out Thomas.
• Occasional snuggles from Oliver.
• Holding his hand if we go somewhere.
• Watching and learning how he plays.
• Seeing Victor--my favorite train--on Thomas episodes.
• Playing showtunes and watching Oliver jump and spin. 
• Watching him fall asleep in strange places, such as between his train table and the couch. 
• Talking to Oliver even if he's not listening.
• Seeing him line up cars or trains and check them from every angle.
• Snuggling sometimes at bedtime.
• Hearing him "read" his favorite books.
• Seeing him sit and carefully turn the pages of books. 
• Responding to his saying, "I need help."
• Getting kisses and knowing I taught him that years ago.
• Feeling able to answer more questions about him, especially with doctors.
• Getting to sit quietly for a few minutes.
• Getting to read or write for a few minutes at a time--a little still adds up.
• Watching him paint. 
• Noticing his sweet buttermilk skin.
• Listening to him playing in the bathtub.
• Successfully redirection Oliver (especially when Josh is home to see it!)
• Helping Oliver learn to do tiny tasks like throwing away his food wrapper, turning on a particular light, or helping me switch the laundry.
• Watching him solve a puzzle.
• Smelling his hair and remembering that that was how I first knew (instinctively, not logically) that he was my baby.