Cupcakes for All!

So, today Duncan and I visited a new friend, semi-old aquaintance, at home.  Last fall we met a family at Gymboree that we just seemed to get along with.   Then, they stopped coming to Gymboree and life just got busy.  But, through the magic of Facebook we've stayed connected.  Earlier this week Holly offered that if we wanted to bring Duncan  to Blake's 2nd birthday party that she would ensure there would be food and cupcakes that he could have!  What a special treat!  Anyone that's ever dealt with severe food allergies or dietary restrictions knows the sadness, frustration, anxiety and helplessness that food and social events can bring to a child, or family of a child, with food limitations.

So, today Duncan went on his first official play-date and Holly and I made yummy cupcakes!  We used the recipe that I used for Duncan's 2nd birthday cake.  We added a little extra dash of this and that and we had some yummy cupcakes!  Duncan seemed to definitely approve of his tester piece.  We adapted a recipe that Holly had for frosting with our ingredients and "Wa-La" we have some allergy friendly cupcakes.  They are free of corn, gluten, dairy, egg, gelatin, coconut, tree nuts, peanuts, soy and the list could go on.  What do they contain?  Rice, potato, garbanzo beans, palm oil shortening, canola oil, lemon, sea salt, organic sugar and organic colorings.  There are more ingredients for sure, but that gives you an idea of what actually was used. 

Tomorrow Duncan will go to his first birthday party (that's not for him, obviously.)   He will get to play.  He will get to ride a pony.  He will get to eat.  And,he will get to actually PICK a cupcake off of the same tray as other children!!!!  Tomorrow I won't have to say, "Sorry honey.  This one is for you."  Or, "Wait! Wait! Wait!  Don't touch that!" Or watch every other child, parent and animal around to make sure that he is not being cross-contaminated.  There will be non-allergenic cupcakes as well.  However, from what I understand this is a group of people who understand special needs.  Several of the other children and adults there also have severe allergies:  They "Get It."  So, I'll have extra sets of eyes just like mine automatically watching out for everyone.  :) 

I'm super excited to have a tiny bit of normalcy introduced into our routine.  It is extremely exciting!  I"m not sure that I can convey through a Blog exactly how much it makes my heart sing to know that tomorrow Duncan just gets to be another little boy at the party.  He's not, "The allergy kid" that has to be different than everyone else.  He just gets to run and play and eat fruit, veggies and cupcakes like everyone else.

*My heart is smiling*