Perks of "Staying Home"

I don't really love the title "Stay at Home Mom." I feel like it implies that all I do is stay at home. However, having more time at home has serious advantages. Last night I thought about some of the non-baby related things I've done over the last few months (yes, there actually are some).

• READ. I've read more in the last two months than I have in a long time, maybe ever. I've read a pretty good variety too - The Last Lecture, Hands of My Father, Twilight (the first and second books - embarrassing, I know, but I am only reading the series to confirm how much I dislike it), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, now I'm in the middle of Jane Eyre and I love it. I also study the scriptures more intently.
  
• EXERCISE. I consistently run three plus miles three times a week pushing a jogging stroller. Getting outside and exercising makes such a difference in my mood.
  
• SEW. Thanks largely to the church sewing group I attend (and my mom for lugging her old, very heavy sewing machine across the country), I've made a bag, curtains, a ladybug costume, and now I'm making Christmas stockings.
• COOK. Instead of our standard quasadilla, I make chicken pot pie, quiche, clam linguine, cashew chicken, biscuits, enchilada casserole, etc. Okay, we actually had quasadillas last night, but I did make chicken pot pie on Monday and tomorrow I'm making chili verde.
  

It's really nice to have time to do things besides work and sleep.

And, here's what makes all of that possible: