MP, let me join your bad mummy club, Missy E had her 18 mth vacc yesterday! LOL It's only chickenpox, isn't it...never even used to be on the schedule. YAY for your move to Melb, I know how happy you will be there and even more of an inducement for me to take myself a little holiday over there!

Renee, keeping everything crossed it all goes through smoothly for you. Ugh I can't believe the ILs are handing over cola drinks!!?

I must admit we are laxer with the sweet foods than we were with DD1 - now because the big kids have some of that Missy E always wants it - I just try to control the portions and I dilute the fizzy - we usually only have lemonade just cos it has the fewest nasties in it. Biscuits are problematic, tho we usually steer clear of actual lollies. Icey poles are a biggie at the moment (heatwave) but I try to keep a stash of homemade juice & yoghurt ones and she's pretty happy to have her teeth brushed unlike DD1 who always made a fuss about it.

MM sounds like you're battling a cultural value about nurturing through food and chubba bubbas being strong and healthy...I guess all you can do is keep talking about it and maybe adopt some strategies like giving M a healthy meal/snack before she goes there so she's not just filling up on cr@p. The teeth and the behaviour are a bit of a worry, but I guess you also have to consider all the healthy stuff you're doing with her will outweigh the stuff which she's really only having sometimes, kwim?

Clare LOL at the apple bag hurling...I have a not-my-finest-moment story involving my FIL and the historic Balfours cafe which very nearly resulted in them packing their car and driving home to QLD 2 days before christmas, but your story most definitely trumps mine for colour and style .