San Ramon’s Little Warrior: Zorawar Reaches Baby of the Year Quarter-Finals

By San Ramon Times Desk | Community Celebrations

SAN RAMON, Calif. — Six-month-old Zorawar Sodhi has a few favorite ways of making his parents smile. He blows raspberries, wiggles his way upward while lying on his back, and has a habit of making eye contact before breaking into a grin.

And when he laughs, he laughs with his entire body.

For his parents, Karan and Harjot Sodhi, these everyday moments are anything but ordinary.

Coming Home to San Ramon

For the Sodhi family, San Ramon is more than the place they call home. It is where their family’s story has come full circle.

Zorawar’s mother, Harjot, grew up in San Ramon before moving to New York shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. It was there that she met Karan, and the two fell in love.

After marrying and welcoming Zorawar, the couple decided to return to the community where Harjot had spent her childhood to give their son the best life possible.

The decision also brought them closer to Zorawar’s maternal grandparents, who live in San Ramon and have already become an important part of his young life.

The couple have also shared that in vitro fertilization (IVF) was part of their journey to becoming parents, adding another deeply personal dimension to the joy of welcoming their son. His name, Zorawar, means “warrior”—a name his parents say could not be more fitting for the little boy they affectionately call their miracle.

“When we call Zorawar our miracle, it comes from a place much deeper than words can fully express,” the couple told San Ramon Times. “His arrival represents a dream come true as we went through IVF to bring him to this world.”

Now, the family has another reason to celebrate: Zorawar has advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 Baby of the Year competition.

But for Karan and Harjot, the greatest reward arrived six months ago.

A little boy who changed everything

Like many new parents, the Sodhis are discovering that some of life’s happiest moments are also its simplest.

Zorawar loves making faces, experimenting with sounds, and surprising his parents with his increasingly expressive personality.

“His laughter is contagious, and his smile can transform an ordinary day,” they said.

The couple especially enjoys watching him discover new ways to move. One of his latest tricks is sliding upward on his back, using his entire body to propel himself along.

His parents say these little discoveries have given them a new appreciation for everyday life.

“There is something profoundly humbling about looking at your child and realizing just how much joy one little person can bring into the world,” they shared. “We never want to take a single moment with him for granted.”

Their hopes for Zorawar extend well beyond his early milestones.

They want him to grow up embracing his individuality, treating others with kindness, and understanding that strength is measured not only by achievement but also by compassion.

“We want him to grow up knowing that he was deeply loved from even before conception and that he has the power to make a difference, no matter how small he may seem to the world today,” his parents said.

From a family celebration to a national competition

The Sodhis entered Zorawar in Baby of the Year as a way to celebrate their son and the new chapter of their lives.

Advancing to the quarter-finals has brought excitement, encouragement, and an opportunity to share their family’s story with a wider community.

“Reaching the quarter-finals has been both humbling and exciting,” the couple said. “It has given us an opportunity to share his little personality with others and to experience the generosity and encouragement that can come from a community coming together to support a family.”

The competition’s grand prize includes $25,000 and an opportunity to participate in a national advertising campaign with The Honest Company.

For the Sodhis, winning would be a memorable milestone, but they say the experience is about more than a title or prize.

“More importantly, we hope his story reminds other families that behind every milestone is a unique journey, filled with its own hopes, challenges, and reasons to celebrate.”

A little love from San Ramon

As Zorawar continues through the competition, his parents hope their San Ramon neighbors will join them in celebrating his journey.

Quarter-final voting is scheduled to close Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m. Pacific.

The competition allows supporters to cast one free vote every 24 hours. Additional votes are available through charitable donations benefiting Baby2Baby through DTCare, subject to applicable fees and costs.

Readers who wish to learn more about the competition or support Zorawar can visit his official profile:

👉 View Zorawar’s Baby of the Year profile

For Karan and Harjot, sharing their son’s story is also an opportunity to celebrate the different journeys families take toward parenthood.

“If sharing his journey inspires even one person to celebrate their own family a little more, or reminds someone of the extraordinary power of hope, that would mean the world to us,” they said.

Whatever happens in the competition, there will be more firsts, more laughter, and plenty of discoveries ahead for Zorawar.

And for the Sodhi family, every new smile is another reason to celebrate.