Ten Months of Growing With Anika

Today felt special in a quiet way. Anika completed ten months, and we kept it simple at home. Lovely and Gudi took charge of the setup. They spread a blue bedsheet and made the number ten with jasmine flowers. It looked nice, not over the top, just a small effort filled with love. I stood there watching the two of them arrange flowers while Anika sat in the middle, full of curiosity, trying to understand what was happening around her.

She wore a small green dress with a matching flower clip. The moment we placed her on the bedsheet, she started touching the petals, moving them around as if she was helping. She did not cry or fuss today. She was calm, playful, and kept giving those random smiles that make everything else fade for a moment.

Taking photos of a baby is a different challenge. Every time we positioned the camera, she turned her head in the opposite direction. Babies have perfect timing for mischief. But somehow the photos came out really nice. The lighting was soft, the dress suited her, and the jasmine flowers added a peaceful touch.

While clicking her photos, we kept thinking about how fast these ten months have gone. It does not feel like ten months at all. It feels like ten minutes. She is growing every day. One new expression, one new sound, one new way of looking at things. And somewhere in this process, we are growing too. Parenthood is not one big dramatic moment. It is small shifts inside you that you understand only when you pause.

Today reminded me to slow down and watch her grow. Work and stress will keep coming, but she will not be ten months again. Moments like these do not make noise, but they stay with you.