Anika turns eight months

Eight months. It still surprises me how quickly that number changed. One day she was this tiny baby who only knew how to cry, drink milk, and sleep. Now she looks at me with these curious eyes as if she is trying to decode the whole world.

This month felt special. Not because something big happened, but because the small things finally started connecting. Her expressions. Her half-sitting posture. Her attempts to grab everything, including my glasses and my patience.

The photoshoot that became a memory

The setup you see in the pictures was done by Lovely. She had the whole plan in her head. Flowers, the number eight, the daisy dress, the bow, the maroon bedsheet, and Anika in the centre of it all.

I just watched from the side thinking, this girl is lucky. Her mother and her Lovely bua put so much heart into these things. They see angles I usually miss.

Anika kept looking at the camera like she was judging whether we deserve her attention. In most photos she looks calm, but we all know she gave us a solid workout during the shoot. Babies have this talent. They do nothing yet somehow leave adults exhausted.

What changed this month

This eighth month brought a shift in her presence. She reacts more. She recognises voices. She studies faces before smiling. She grabs my fingers with more intention. Her tiny hands feel stronger, like she is telling me she is slowly becoming her own person.

There is a new softness in the routine. She wakes up, turns her head, searches for us, and gives this half-smile that makes everything worth it. Some days I look at her and wonder how such a small person can create so much purpose in a house.

What I felt as a father

With every passing month, I see how my priorities keep shifting. Work is still work, deadlines are still deadlines, but the emotional gravity in my life sits around this small girl.

I also feel more responsible. Not in the dramatic way, but in a grounded way. When I look at her, I want to become a calmer person. A more patient person. Someone who gives her a world where she can grow without fear.

These eight months taught me that parenting is not a big leap. It is a series of tiny adjustments. One day you give up late-night scrolling. One day you learn to eat faster. One day you stop getting irritated at small things because a baby is sleeping on your chest and nothing else matters.

The month ahead

I have no prediction for the ninth month. She might start crawling or she might continue giving us those suspicious looks during photo sessions. Either way, I am learning to enjoy her pace instead of forcing mine.

Every month feels like a chapter. This eighth one was full of colour, flowers, and a lot of effort from her Lovely bua. And one day when Anika grows up and sees these photos, I hope she understands how loved she has been since day one.

Eight months done. A lifetime to go.