So...returned from having spent time with the MIL at Christmas...just the one day..we went to them...
Dare I say it..
It actually went quite well! MIL behaved herself. She only had one snipe at me, which FIL promptly put her in her place about (saving me having to even draw breath).
So, apparently standing up for myself and telling MIL exactly what was pissing me off seems to have done the trick. We did receive 3 pink outfits for DD (!!) but they're from M+S so can be swopped, and she listened to my concerns over not buying DD ridiculous amounts of toys (she's only 8 wks old!) and bought her a couple of decent (NEW!) Fisher price toys.
MIL - you have somewhat redeemed yourself! 
Oh. AND she kept the dogs locked away.