We're in the car, driving back from Massachusetts, and Ruby's watching Pippi Longstocking on her dvd player. Suddenly the volume gets turned up. I turn around and ask her to turn it back down. But our girl has a huge grin on her face and says back, "Mama, what did you say, I can't hear you!" We were set up. And that is the story of Ruby's first carefully executed joke.

***

This weekend we got to spend time with our family. Ruby and David attended Ellaina's Saturday afternoon soccer game while I sneaked in some computer time in a coffee shop. We went shopping at David and Ruby's favorite store, Klem's. We celebrated Blake's 14th birthday with burritos, spinach lasagna and ice-cream cake. The kids, David included, walked Guy and the new puppy, Mischa.

This morning, on our way to school, Ruby asked me if her beloved cousin Ellaina misses her. At school she showed off her new funky pants to Mr. Reid: "Look, these pants have stripes and flowers and just so much stuff on them. My grandma in France bought them for me!" Ruby just loves her family so much.

***

Our girl is quick with her emotions. They are right there, ready to be expressed, with great speed. And despite the fact that she has so many words, her emotions often come out through her body, with tears or basic verbal anger or fists. We're working on it. "No Ruby, don't talk with your body, please use some words to tell us what's going on."

But then, she's quick with her words too. She's been telling her best friend ever, Sam, in moments of something, that she won't ever play with him again. Sam, on hearing that the first time, erupted in tears. After consoling Sam we had a good learning moment, as she realized that words hurt too.

While there are no doubt a lot of things going on in our babe's head, related to seeing Marie less and going to school more, and just your normal preschooler developmental stuff, the biggest issue I see is control.

I think it's clear that Ruby is a strong-willed confident child. And when she senses she doesn't have control, isn't in control, she reacts. And she reacts strongly. My goal is to help my daughter stay strong and be strong while being okay with not always being in control. Something I struggle with myself. I love this exploratory journey that I am sharing with Ruby. "No, mama, my name is Ruby Hyland."