It’s Tuesday evening in the Sangha household and happy screams and giggles are erupting from the kitchen. That’s where 1-year-old Jiyana is chasing her older brother Dilan, driving circles around the kitchen island in their toy cars.

“Our toes have been run over multiple times by those wheels,” said Dr. Monica Khurana jokingly, mother of the two toddlers. “Our house is very loud.”

It’s the makings of an already close connection between the siblings. Whether they are riding down the slides together at one of Dilan’s favorite parks or playing chef and sous chef and whipping up pretend jalebi — an Indian dessert and a nod to their father’s nickname for their mother — Dilan and Jiyana are inseparable. “She’s very eager to do everything he does; she’s his little shadow,” Monica said. 

Jiyana, nicknamed “JiJi,” is the winner of SPLURGE! Magazine's 2023 Our Cover, Your Kid contest, and her bright blue eyes are an engaging welcome to this month’s issue. It’s a feeling of coming full circle, said Monica. “I always read SPLURGE! growing up and now my daughter is on the cover. It’s really just so fun and exciting,” she said. 

At just 3 years old, Dilan, who posed in the studio with his sister, is a great role model; he’s compassionate and caring, and always thinking of others, said his parents, Monica and Manroj Sangha. Meanwhile, Jiyana has a smile that can turn anyone’s day around. “She’s a social butterfly when she’s out and about with us,” Monica said. “She loves to greet everyone with a ‘hi’ and a cheeky smile with her two little teeth peeking through.”

At 12 months old it’s hard to tell what Jiyana is most drawn to, but there’s no denying her love for music, and her parents say that could run in the family. “It’s a family of music,” Manroj said. “Monica’s grandpa has sung his entire life from his college days until now, and Monica inherited that. Music is a big component of their lives.”

Jiyana and Dilan’s great-grandparents, Dr. Harish and Ved Minocha, are in their 90s and live close by in Manhattan. The first time he met Jiyana, Dr. Minocha sang her a song, and he’s continued to sing the same song to her during every visit. Now, Jiyana recognizes the song — their special song. “She loves singing and clapping with her great-grandfather, just like she’s doing in her cover photo,” Monica said. 

Jiyana and Dilan love to spend time with their great-grandparents and their grandparents, Dr. Vijay and Meena Khurana, who live just down the street. Jiyana and Dilan share a close bond with their grandparents — a bond that taught Monica and Manroj that it truly takes a village to raise kids.

Spending time with their families is something the kids and their parents are looking forward to this holiday season — a season that means a little something extra for the Sangha family. “Holidays are special for everybody — but my wife and I met and had our first dates around the holiday season, and our love flourished around Christmas,” Manroj said. “And now to have our kids born around the holidays, it’s honestly the best four months that we look forward to.”

It may be a matter of fate that both Dilan and Jiyana were born in December and November, respectively, two more special reasons for the family to celebrate this time of year. “We’re truly blessed with the family that we have, and my relationship with Monica, and for everything, it’s really a blessing,” Manroj said.

Surayla Aida Colbert, 3

Parents: Taya Demery and Santana Colbert

Favorite …

• Snack: Chocolate

• Interests: Likes to put on lipstick

• Pastimes: Singing, dancing and taking pictures

• Songs: “Let It Go,” “This is Halloween”

Personality: She’s super smart, very witty and cute.

Other fun facts: When she learned she was a finalist, she said, “I’m ready to be cute!”

Henry Gish, 18 months

Parents: Amanda and Jared Gish

Favorite …

• Snack: Animal crackers

• Toys: Cars, basketballs

• Games: Peek-a-boo, hide and seek

• Show: “Danny Go!” on YouTube

Personality: He’s all boy! 

Other fun facts: Henry is extremely loved by his sisters.