Cuddles. I got a 'you are my favourite Mummy' first thing in the morning from DS (nearly 4). I was tempted to point out that I was his only Mummy but I didn't. It takes them a while to show their love, but it's magical.
I think DS is good company. On my 1 day off work, we spend the morning pottering around, doing chores and chatting. I found the newborn stage tedious but everything after 18 months (including the terrible 2s) hasn't been too bad. That moment when a light goes on behind their eyes when they 'get' something is also magical. I love reading to DS and have since he's been a newborn. It's our favourite time. Last Friday we curled up on the sofa with hot chocolate/tea and I was reading 'The Enchanted Wood' to me. It was a very nice 20 minutes.
Questions. DS asks hilarious questions. This might out me, but he recently asked 'what was the name of the kangaroo shop in Bethlehem?' EIH? What? But also sometimes asks interesting questions. He has recently been asking more difficult questions about poverty and charity etc.
And yes, he is funny. He goes to a ballet class. It is (unintentionally) hilarious. I suspect their nursery Nativity production will be similarly hilarious.
Finally, a lot of people find different things about motherhood challenging. I found the boredom of the newborn phase excruciating. I quite enjoyed going back to work at 7 months. I also don't do well at home, so we've always been out and about a lot. Some people find the toddler stage extremely difficult, and I'm yet to experience the teenage years. Overall, it's been great fun getting to know this whole new person you've created.
On a practical basis, now that he's 4, we have our evenings back. With some planning, we can go out and see the odd movie, have dinner out. I would say that in the last 18 months or so, I've missed my 'old' life less and less.