Mom of two.

Last weekend, I went to a bridal shower. The mother of the bride asked me if I was a mom. I said yes and informed her I had two children -- a 3-year-old daughter and an 8-month-old son.

You should have seen the look on her face.

It's a look I'm all-too-familiar with. It's not a bad look, like a stink-eye or a crusty (though I have received my fair share of those, too). Just a look of complete surprise and disbelief.

I know -- I look like I could still be in high school. I'm short, skinny and I have a round, pixie-like face with an upturned nose. Someday, I'm sure I'll be glad about my eternal youthfulness. But sometimes, I wish I looked the part of Mom of Two. At least it would make everyday conversations a little less awkward.

Anyway, I have since reflected on what it means to be a Mom of Two. In the past, I've been asked by friends who are embarking on Baby #2 what it's like and how it's different from being a Mom of One. Well, that's a tricky question with an ever-changing answer. Sometimes, having two kids is harder, like when I'm trying to fix Bubby a sandwich and Smush is in his high chair, wailing away and thinking I've abandoned him for good. Or when I'm at the library and Smush has had it with the stroller and Bubby is running rampant through the shelves, giggling up a storm. But sometimes, it's easier, like when I'm writing a blog post and they are happily (for the most part) playing together in Bubby's room. Or when Bubby informs me Smush has a wad of paper in his mouth.

Here's a list of things I've learned about being a Mom of Two:

1) You can never have enough baby wipes and Cheerios.

2) Going out in public takes a great deal of mental and physical preparation. Thank you, Costco, for having double carts. Smart move right there.

3) Planning is essential to survival and sanity.

4) Hulu and/or DV-R is the only way to watch television.

5) It takes a week to read a book I could have finished in two days before I had kids.

6) A shopping trip that involves trying on clothes? Forget it.

7) Don't bother putting on real clothes until you have somewhere to go. They'll just get covered in drool, vomit and peanut butter.

8) You can take a shower in less than 5 minutes if you have to.

9) The Wii and the Exersaucer are fantastic babysitters.

10) 7:00 a.m. is not that early, and 11:00 p.m. is super late.