Thank you both for your comments. I will pay closer attention to her taking care of her "baby." It seems very important to her that she is a good mother - feeding, comforting, dressing, bathing, etc. She frequently asks me if she is a good mother. (I hope it means she is emulating me rather than expressing something she is missing!)
As far as arguments, yes, she does hear them sometimes. I try to avoid arguing in front of the children but sometimes emotions erupt, etc.
It just occurred to me that she is also dealing with her sister eventually leaving for college in the fall. So her family living arrangements are definitely going to change soon. She is aware of all this, especially with her parents in separate bedrooms and all the discussions about college visits, dorm rooms, etc.
Thanks for helping me think this through!
I agree it sounds like game playing to me ,she may also be upset by the happenings in her life ,are there any arguments she over hears ?
just my opion on first reading your letter you hear of some people with special talents and been ably to talk to guides and angels , whether you believe this or not is another story , but could it be possably this beaviour started and especially with the doll , , she could be espressing her own feelings and emotions through the doll ,, , those she understand fully why your getting devorced ,, and she ll be still loved is she afraid etc will she freely express her own feeling ,, keep an eye on the stories she telling you about her baby ,, you might find its relates to her,many children may pick ip an imaginery friend also from time to time passes in time