HELP! Advice Needed!!

Here it goes....what should I do with my children?


Dilemmas:

Mel: She talks like her mother "Julia, stop or your going to your room!" "Mommy, I'm going to count to 3" "Leave me alone" I know this shows me in some bad light.... but really, try being the ONLY one there for your children 24/7 for 5 or 6 months at a time - no set of extra hands coming at 5 pm (or sometimes earlier). I rest my case. So... she smart mouths me (I am inclined to start putting soap in her mouth when she does these things - almost like Ralphie on The Christmas Story), she hits her sister and pulls her hair (I am resorting to sending her to her room when she does these things and taking away privileges when we are in public) and she whines when she has to clean up - like it is SOOOOO hard!! (which I plan to remedy that with a nice little chore chart and implement them on a daily basis to teach her a little about responsibility... if any of you have any cute layouts or ideas for the chore chart feel free to send them my way)

Julia: Not as big of a problem with her though. She is just busy busy and practically "destructo-kid". Any creative ideas to have that energy go somewhere constructive would be an answer to my prayers!

Also, any ideas of how I can explain to the girls that I cannot pick them up anymore due to the growing belly (and baby) without resorting to "blaming" it on the baby - I would like the suggestions too!

I look forward to your help! I look up to all of you ladies and am grateful to have the opportunity to ask your opinions.