For my blog, 2012 didn’t really begin until May when my infant son turned 6 months old. That’s when I managed to pull my head out from under a mound of diapers to try to find myself amid the rubble of having a second kid.
I never would have thought that the second post I wrote after a half year hiatus (and before that, only a handful of sporadic posts) would be the #1 most popular post on my blog…
This post was emotional for me to write (and read) since it really brought me back to my daughter’s celiac diagnosis that came just days after she turned three. Now we are only four months away from her 5th birthday. What a transformation in my girl, and in our lives.
2. First Week of School Lunches Gluten Free
Who can forget my obsessive documentation of Bunky’s first week of school lunches? Um, probably most normal people, but here it is in case you’re curious. I may look through it for inspiration since we are in a total food rut. Shocking, I know.
Awesome first day of school pose.
3. When Your Kid Gets Glutened
Another tear jerker for me. I don’t think I have ever seen my daughter more terrified than when she realized the cupcake she was eating was full of gluten. Our lives are still effected by what happened at that birthday party. Bunky refuses to eat anything that other people prepare for her. In some ways I feel like it broke a piece of her trust with me, since I was the one who gave her the go-ahead to eat that crappy cupcake. Yes, mistakes happen, I know. But they still suck.
On a lighter note, my husband had his GF baking dream come true (not counting croissants) when I made him these. I think it’s pretty funny (and great) that one of top ways people found my site was by searching for cranberry orange muffins. Who knew they were so sought after? Well, I guess my husband did. But don’t go telling him that.
Yes, he was that excited.
5. Pumpkin Addiction: A Round-up plus a Recipe
I’m not surprised that this one was popular. I just made pumpkin muffins this morning, so clearly my addiction is still on. Though it was temporarily surpassed by peppermint bark. If you want a flashback to when pumpkin was splattered all over the internet, check it out. There’s also an awesome recipe for pumpkin chai oatmeal cookies by my super talented baker/seamstress cousin Peeps.
Now it’s time for a rather belated but completely genuine and heartfelt THANK YOU to you for reading my posts. Seriously. For a while there I felt like I was writing to myself, and that was okay, but writing to actual human beings is way better. So thank you again.
Happy (almost) New Year! Hope to see you all lots in 2013.
-Dana (mom to Bunky, the Celiac Kiddo, and not-so-new arrival Little Guy + wife to my husband, and beyond all that, an actual human being who loves to write)
celiac kiddo 
I love your posts- I just wish I had found you sooner! I find myself going back further and further into your blog to find new recipes, stories and ideas… And along the way- I found this wonderful post about beautiful bloggers… and I saw my name typed in one of the slots! I would be such a bad friend if I didn’t say a (belated) thank you! You are so sweet and I am touched to have been noticed! Thank you Thank you!
Keep on keepin’ on because I’m still reading!
love jess
Oh Jess, I need to thank YOU because according to my stats you were my most frequent commenter 🙂 Thank you for being such a good reader and friend, I do consider you that despite not having met in person! You are well deserving of the Beautiful Blogger nomination. I always love reading your blog and catching up on your and your sweet family. It’s funny, I thought I posted a comment about the nomination on your site, but maybe it never went through. Regardless, I’m glad you saw it now! I hope you have a wonderful New Year and I look forward to reading more of your blog in 2013.
Warmly,
Dana