Kate Middleton Baby Watch: How You Can Celebrate the Royal Birth

By Mary Ann Barton

Certainly our Founding Fathers were not this excited about a royal birth, but these days things are different in the United States.

Despite Northern Virginia being nearly 4,000 miles "across the pond" from London, news that the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton is expected to give birth any minute, is perking up ears all over.

1. Follow the British Monarchy on Twitter 
2. Enter to win "Windsor," a Royal Baby Steiff Teddy Bear from the UK Gift Company. All you have to do is correctly guess the royal heir's name to be entered into a drawing to win. Value is 150 pounds.
3. Raise your tea cup, at a proper British tea in Northern Virginia:

• Bailiwick Inn in Fairfax
• British Pantry in Chantilly
• Green Spring Gardens Park in Alexandria
• Ritz Carlton Hotel at Pentagon City or Tysons

4. Check out British bookies' odds for the baby's name (it's up to you whether you want to place a bet or not!): Top names in the running are Alexandra, George, Charlotte and Victoria (500 to 1 shots: "Fergie" and "Wayne.")
5. Toast with a Pimm's Cup at Founding Farmers. (We know, it doesn't open a location in Tysons until 2014, but you can go to the other locations and preview the menu.) Recipe for this summer favorite: Pimm’s No 1, Curacao, Lime Juice, Founding Farmers Ginger Beer, Cucumbers, Mint
6. Throw your own "royal baby" bash with pink and blue-icing cupcakes — commemorative cupcake toppers anyone?
7. Pre-order your copy of "Shhh! Don't Wake the Royal Baby!" by Martha Mumford and Ada Grey, on Amazon or at your favorite book store. 
8. And last but not least — are you sure you aren't related to Royal Baby? Check out your royal roots on ancestry.com. There's a British marriage records section you can look into.