The Parallel Princess

Today our little princess is two months old.  We are beginning to see the essence of Lexi Grace as she evolves from her languid early newborn stage and develops into a baby.  She adeptly picks her head up higher than most babies do at this age and attentively takes in the world around her through those serious deep blue and large eyes.  Most of her newborn hair has fallen out, while her baby hair begins to sprout- in sunlight, it is golden blonde, soft to the touch, like spun silk.  She is smiling more often now and from what it appears with a bit of effort, occasionally she finds her voice- the one that is not her crying voice.  It seems to me she is trying to speak back to me at times, or to imitate the sounds coming from my mouth.  These little sounds melt my heart as equally as her smiles do.  She loves when I sing to her; I think her favorite song is Impossible from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and she doesn’t care at all when I get the lyrics wrong.   

A friend of mine from work, Kristi, wrote on the latest photo that I posted of Lexi on my Facebook page: She looks so thoughtful. I'm thinking that she will be a force in this world.  Kristi is one of the smartest women I know, so I don’t take this comment lightly.  I know, for certain, that she is definitely a force in my world.  The baby paraphernalia in my house is beginning to multiply, much like this year’s summer rabbits in my yard.  I now gravitate towards the baby aisles when I go shopping.  This inclination has taken over Auntie Kimberly, as well.  We went into the Gap Outlet on Friday and Kimberly went straight to the children’s clothing section and walked out with a bag of clothing, not for herself, but for Lexi, instead.  And my sister, Claire, in Arizona has not stopped shopping for her great niece either. 

Last night, my brother, sister-in-law and nephew, Max came to see Lexi and we all went out to eat at the Thai restaurant where we had Lindsay and Scott’s engagement party.  It was packed and several people came over to get a closer look at the baby- she got so much attention, it was as if she was royalty, almost. 

Speaking of royalty, which even though our country had fought for independence from 237 years ago, we still got caught up in the media frenzy this past week with the birth of the prince in the UK on July 22.  Once again I am reminded of our unique parallel to the princes and princesses of the world, past and present. 

I was born the year the actress, Grace Kelly, became a princess in 1956.  (Notice her name- Grace- as in Lexi Grace.)  Lindsay was born the same year as Prince William in 1982 and his wife, Kate, the duchess (not really a princess because she came from an ‘ordinary family’).  And now, my granddaughter is born the same year as their son, the newest prince. 

Add to these coincidences- the prince’s name- George Alexander Louis, and the parallel continues.  Lexi was named after her great grandfathers- George and Louis.  And you can’t help but acknowledge that there is a ‘lex’ as in Lexi in the name Alexander.  There you go; our contemporaneous coexistence to royalty continues and as the progeny to the throne are born, so are my descendants, as well.  I know it’s a stretch, but I cannot resist the comparisons. 

After all, Lexi’s Great Aunt Maryanne, just visited and brought her a new book- Princess Baby.  Confirmed.

Yes.  You are our princess, Lexi Grace. 

Happy 2-month birthday!