Safe Drinking Water

This article from BabyCenter has good information about what to test for in your home's water supply--especially important for pregnant women and small children.

Hawaii Ranch Vacation

Puakea Ranch in Hawaii looks like the ideal place for a family vacation. Let's go!

Learn to Knit

The Lion Brand Yarn web site has great step-by-step illustrated instructions for learning (or remembering) how to knit or crochet. Knitting and babies go together like, um, needles and yarn, although I can't say there is a lot of time for knitting after the baby is born. But then again, little baby bodies are little, so it shouldn't take very long to whip up an adorable heirloom.

Good Lullabies

Baby Mine: Classic Songs for Bedtime is some good baby music. I didn't believe it either when I saw this cover, but have yourself a listen at iTunes. (via Tangled and True)

Free Airplane

This one goes out to a little Italian boy I know. Print out your very own airplane and other free toys from The Toymaker, including very cute otter paperdolls. (via Ohdeedoh)

Organic Radishes

I love this radish print on the organic clothing from DUNS Sweden. I can't wait until I have another baby so I can carry a little bundle of radishes around! (via Bloesem Kids)

Cardboard Suitcase House

Park your horsie in this sweet cardboard suitcase house. Pack him up and move him out! (via Babygadget)

Pineapple Flowers

Top off your next party cake with some sunny yellow dried pineapple flowers. Bake thin slices of pineapple at 225°F/110°C for about an hour on each side, use a rolling pin on a flower-shaped cookie cutter, and then cup the blossoms with your fingers. Ta-da! (via The Kitchn)

Your New Name

Dear Farcus Farkleface,

Here is your new name.

Sincerely,

Dipsy Pottysprinkles

Sweet Circle Quilt

This pretty quilt over at The Purl Bee was made from wedding napkins. Give it a go and make one yourself! (via Tiny Décor)

Alphabet Gift Tags

Make like Martha Stewart and make a monogram for a gift by cutting an old holiday or birthday card into a giant letter! (via How About Orange)

Truck Alphabet

Spell the name on the nursery wall with trucks. (via Ohdeedoh)

Fabric Gift Wrap

"As my sincere wish, I would like to disseminate the culture of the furoshiki to the entire world." Me too, Ms. Yuriko Koike, Japan's Minister of the Environment, me too. And you are awesome. And Japan is awesome. (via Z Recommends)

Valentine

From Natalie across the ocean to Jacopo. Love.

Selling Things

Selling crafts or vintage items on eBay or Etsy is a good way to supplement the family income while staying home with Best Baby Ever, and there is a handy guide and Excel file over at Design*Sponge to help you launch your empire.

Dinner's Ready

This total cuteness is what happens when a five-year-old girl sets her own place at the table. It is like a work of art with the tiny plates in a grid. (via automatism)

Felt Alphabet Magnets

These sweet handmade felt alphabet magnets are $40 from Etsy seller MiChiMa and are even better than the ones we had as kids. No nasty plastic! (via KidsHaus)

Dippy Dinner

This looks like a fun dinner of colorful sticks and dip from Esther of Babyccino. Of course the kids will eat it if they get to play with it! I like the idea of the secret pink sauce made from plain yogurt with a hint of ketchup. My Double Dipper is way too fond of mayonnaise.

Abundance

Yeah, man. (via decor8)

Felt Bird Mask

Pretty bird! Craaawk! This bird mask is handmade from felt and is $18 from Etsy seller lupin.

German Bunk Beds

These cool, modern bunk beds are from Berge, a backpacker's inn in Germany. Fancy! (via Remodelista)

Petticoat Skirt

I also just ordered this dotted petticoat skirt from Boden. There is a lot of twirling going on around here, and that life skill needs to be nurtured.

Apple Shirt

I just ordered this adorable apple crochet appliqué T-shirt from Boden. The sky blue and yellow colors remind me of the outfit I wore when I was a kid visiting my grandmother in Germany. Now, I wonder where I can get a riveted white leather skinny double strand belt? Before you order from Boden, sign up for their email, and you'll get a discount plus free shipping and returns.

Magical Stairs

I love this fancy little doorway at the top of these blue and white stairs. And there is a gorgeous modern space in this old house in Bruges. Gorgeous, gorgeous, beautiful! And wouldn't it be fun to play in?

Towel Robe

Look at this pretty pool robe made from a towel. You can make one yourself with these instructions from Sew, Mama, Sew! (via How About Orange)

Swedish Twin Room

I love this white Swedish kids' room with little dashes of color from the archives of Sköna hem. (via BODIE and FOU)

Jumping Photo

This photo from French retailer Cute.fr reminds me that I should be taking cute pictures of Cute Baby jumping. (via Ohdeedoh)

Twin Beds in Pink

This room is pretty in pink with twin beds and gorgeous coverlets. (via Alkemie)

Seersucker Dress

This super cute seersucker hippie dress is available in light blue stripe and other colors in sizes 2-14 at Papo d'Anjo.

Boat Gift Wrap

Denise has instructions for making this sweet boat gift wrap on d.Sharp Journal. Love it. (via Ohdeedoh)

Kiva Love

Look at this lovely woman, Beatrice from Ghana, one of the entrepreneurs on Kiva. This is what my good baby does with all her money (and the money comes back). Sharing the love is so easy and an important life lesson. Here is Beatrice's profile:

"Beatrice Serwaa is a 50-year-old trader; she is married and the mother of six children who are currently in school. Beatrice trades at the Abofour community market and has been trading for the past eight years. She trades in large quantity of vegetables supplies like onions, tomatoes, peppers and more. Through this business she has supported two of her children to the senior high school level. She is now applying for a loan to increase her inventory and to scale up the business. She hopes to increase her savings to support the children's education to give them a future, and to support her husband in providing for the household."

Fox Doll

Look at this raggedly foxy fox, handmade by Etsy seller abigailbrown for $78. So cute and whiskery! (via More Ways to Waste Time)

Dancing Girls

That's it. I'm getting Tootie a tutu. This music video is I'd Rather Dance With You by Kings of Convenience. (via Junior Society)

Rainbow Marimekko

Ooh, pretty rainbow fabric from Marimekko's new collection! Kimara is a little too crazy for curtains, but maybe it would make a nice headboard or pillow. (via Design*Sponge)

Dog Says "I Love You"

This talking dog cracks me up. (via More Ways to Waste Time)

Whale Rider

Monkeybuns made up her first joke last night, about three hours before she was exactly two and a half. It goes like this: "You want to sit on a whale? Nope. Too wet. Da foot no like-a da water." She and I thought it was hilarious. I have no idea where the imagery came from, but it reminded me of the amazing acting of Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider, which in turn reminded me of the amazing acting of 4-year-old Victoire Thivisol in Ponette. Reportedly, no one messed with their heads to get them to emote so beautifully, and not in a Not Without My Daughter kind of way. (Sorry, Sally Field, I didn't even see that movie, and I liked you on ER, but these kids' performances were transcendental.)