Apple Jacks and Blueberry Muffin

If you are not well-versed in the world of a three-year-old girl, you may be under the impression this post is about food. You would be wrong. In the world of my sweet three year old, Apple Jacks and Blueberry Muffin refer to two simple requests.

In the days leading up to Christmas, the question adults ask every child they meet is, “What do you want for Christmas.” This year, the answer to that question was “Apple Jacks.” Followed by my explaining to the surprised inquirer, “No, not the food. Applejack is the name of a My Little Pony.”

That’s it. That was the extent of K’s “Santa List.” Oh don’t get me wrong, I don’t have the perfect child (although she’s pretty darn awesome). She has the typical case of the gimmies, asking for any and everything she sees when we are in a store. But when it came down to what she really wanted, it was just Applejack. And she was certain of this request, since she first realized it was the only one of the main My Little Ponies she didn’t have, back in June.

Then one day, it seemed to dawn on her that she should put something else on her “Santa List.” But she didn’t know what to put. So, she asked me (a sweet moment). I advised her that she should put surprises on her list to be sure that Santa knew he could bring her something wonderful and surprise her. She loved the idea, so the week before Christmas a second item was added to her list “surprises.”

I revel in the sweet innocence of her simple list, well aware that in the coming years she is likely to ask Santa for a lengthy list of toys.

Happily playing with her My Little Ponies (yes, including Applejack) and their Strawberry Shortcake pals a few days after Christmas she discovered (after lining everyone up) that she doesn’t have a mini Blueberry Muffin. She has the others, but no “baby Blueberry.” So she announced, with the same enthusiasm she talked about Apple Jacks, that she was going to put a baby Blueberry Muffin on her Santa list for next year (already planning for next Christmas, so sweet). When I pointed out that her birthday is coming up (March), she decided Blueberry would be on her birthday list.

So now when every inquirer asks what she wants for her birthday, they receive a simple (enthusiastic) reply, “Blueberry Muffin.” Followed by my explanation.

I don’t ever want her to grow up…