Hello ladies, I am so long overdue a catch up it is embarrassing - I've scrolled through for my last post and it was on the 1st! I have been lurking though. Someone down the road is having a BBQ/party (they do every summer) and this year they've got a live band in their garden, they're pretty good and playing a good set of songs, so we've opened our windows and I'm enjoying the vibe while I type
Firstly happy birthdays to all the big girls and boys this week - Vag boy and Deids and Obes girls. And good news on some successful potty training going on too, hooray! Oh, and little Jolly is walking, so lovely. And welcome back from your hols Obes and Jam 
I am very happy to read of so many others hitting the 'terrible threes', I'm pretty convinced it's a whole lot worse than the terrible twos, not least because DD has the verbal skills to argue, talk back, negotiate etc etc, whereas when she was younger it was obvious that the main cause of it was frustration at not being able to communicate and articulate as well as she wanted. We regularly get 'it's not fair', 'it's all your fault Mum', flounce, strop, flounce. I often have to check the calendar and remind myself that she is 3 and a half, not 13 and a half. But, saying that, when she's on good form she is adorable and great company. Isn't there a poem or nursery rhyme that went 'when she was good she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was awful'? That was written about DD. Adding my two penn'orth (a bit late) into the smacking discussion, which I found very interesting read some honest opinions on (rather than the wondermum versions on the rest of MN). I have never smacked the girls, but it's not because I'm against it. I was smacked as a child, only a couple of times, and hell, I learnt my lesson. I vividly remember Mum sending me to her room and making me wait there for 5 minutes before coming to smack me. I see now that it was a time out for her, so that she wasn't smacking me in a fit of rage, but controlled and with a clear 'I am going to do this because ...'. If I do smack DD, I want it to have the same very clear message my Mum gave me. That's not to say I haven't felt the rage and wanted to hurt her, as I have felt it too many times. There is one episode that still makes me feel terrible, I'd asked DD to go to the loo before bed and she refused and was pissing around and playing for time and making me crosser and crosser. I'd done the cajoling, threatening no stories, counting, shouting and in the end I picked her up and plonked her on the loo and held her so tight that she couldn't move. She was wriggling and I was digging my fingers into her ribs. And poor DD1 was crying and saying 'it's hurts, you're hurting me' and I yelled in her face that if she sat still and did as I asked I wouldn't have to hold her so tight. The next day I read on MN that apparently bruising to the ribs and torso, where I was holding DD1, is often a sign of abuse. DD hadn't bruised, but I still weep to think that I'm an abuser. I know that is silly and I'm not, but I love my girls and would kill anyone who tried to hurt them, so why does it happen that I can be pushed so far myself? But we all get pushed, and I'm just pleased you've all been so honest to talk about being in the same boat 
Have you made moves with your sister yet Kiwi? And talking of sisters, did you get a response from yours Beans? Are you still leaving DH to deal with DD2 at night, or has he conceded that the sleep trainer might be right?
Indith I hear ya with the hair loss, mine is horrific at the moment. I'm so grateful that I, ahem, still have SPD and so can't cancel the cleaner yet, she's wonder woman with the hoover! No advice on your DDs pooing, but could it be attention seeking? DD1 still randomly wets herself or plays up or does something ridiculous when I'm in the middle of feeding or changing DD2, and will admit she was just bored and wanted my attention
Good luck with the move Trace, and yes, I'll sponsor you (and if I forget then come and give my knuckles a rap)
Spot I saw T's comment about Rhyme Rocket on fb, DD loves it and often tries to find rhyming words, with varying levels of success 'Do tree and wee rhyme? Do cheese and knees rhyme? Does apple and apple juice rhyme?' Last week I let out a very un- ladylike burp, which DD followed immediately with a huge fart and 'Mummy, we rhyme, burp and trump rhyme' 
. BTW, I'm half way through your book, I will get the rest printed off and will come back soon to you if I have anything to say
Vag we may not be around when you come to the NE (in the middle of planning to take the ILs away that weekend for their ruby wedding anniversary), but if it doesn't happen (the actual date is still under discussion), then I will definitely come to see you while you're here
DD2 reached 6 months this week - I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. She is tucking into her food like you wouldn't believe and but BLW is proving too good at improving her pincer grip and the little madam has taken to nipping my bingo wings when I feed her. Ouch. She's also sitting up already, but has no desire to actually move anywhere, she did roll onto her tummy once, 6 weeks or so ago, but clearly decided it wasn't all that as she hasn't attempted it since. She is destined to be a people watcher and not miss a single thing that goes on around her