Space Opera and Military SF

So, approximately 8 years after they were recommended to me, I'm finally reading Lois McMaster Bujold (because I reread all of Elizabeth Moon twice in the last year). Granted, I like space opera a lot more now than I did then.

So I'm starting with the Cordelia's Honor omnibus, and so far I like it quite a lot, although I don't really agree with Bujold that a baby is the natural end to any non-truncated romance.

I see there are a lot more books, and most of them focus on Cordelia's son. How much of a role does she play in them? Are there other interesting female characters? What are your favorite books in the series?