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Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty ImagesTalk about one proud mama. Vanessa Bryant is flooding her daughter, Natalia, with tons of love on her 18th birthday.
On Tuesday, Vanessa took to Instagram to wish a happy birthday to her eldest daughter. She didn’t just make one birthday post, though. The proud mother dedicated six posts to Natalia, two of which included throwback photos with her late father, Kobe Bryant, who died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and several others in a helicopter crash nearly a year ago on January 26.
“Dear Natalia, Happy Birthday!” Vanessa, 38, in her first post. “Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the young lady that you are. You have displayed so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult year of our lives.”
She also thanked her daughter for “stepping in to help” with her sisters Bianka, 4, and Capri, 1.
“Thank you for stepping in to help me with your little sisters. You’re such an incredible big sister and a beautiful role model to so many people,” she continued. “Thank you for being kind, polite and gracious in everything that you do. You have no idea how happy and proud mommy and daddy are that you’re our daughter.”
She concluded, “We love you always and forever, forever and always. Happy 18th birthday to our first born, Natalia, our principessa! Love always, Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, BB and Koko.”
Alongside another post that showed Kobe, Vanessa, and a young Natalia on the Lakers basketball court, she gushed, “We love you so much! Happy birthday Natalia!!!! Our first born.”
And, a third tribute with Natalia being held in her father’s arms, was captioned, “Daddy’s little princess, Natalia.”
By Danielle Long
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