Vanessa Bryant celebrates daughter Capri’s first birthday with photo of Kobe cradling baby Capri

Vanessa Bryant celebrates daughter Capri’s first birthday by sharing heartbreaking photo of Kobe cradling the infant

Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, celebrated her daughter Capri’s first birthday by posting a photo of herself and her late husband staring down at their newborn baby last year.

In the emotional image, the former LA Lakers great cradled their infant daughter in what was her first photo shoot.

‘Happy 1st Birthday Capri! Mommy, Daddy, Nani, Gigi and BB love you SO much!!!, she wrote in the caption. 

‘God Bless you sweet princess. Capri Kobe Bryant a.k.a. “Koko-Bean” named after her dearly missed daddy, Kobe Bean Bryant. We miss you SO much Gigi and Daddy.’  

Emotional: Vanessa Bryant celebrated her daughter Capri’s first birthday by posting a photo of herself and her late husband, Kobe Bryant,  staring down at their newborn baby last year

In the photo, mom, dad and baby Capri were all decked out in white ensembles.

Kobe cupped his baby girl with his left arm as he and Vanessa stared down at their new bundle of joy with loving adoration.   

To mark another life milestone, Kobe took to Instagram right after her birth last June and announced the happy news on Instagram.

‘We are beyond excited that our baby girl “Koko” has arrived!! #bryantbunch #4princesses #blessed,’ he wrote.

About two weeks later Kobe shared a solo snap of Capri and wrote, ‘Our little princess Capri Kobe Bryant “KoKo” 6/20/19,’ along with a red heart emoji.  

Proud papa: Kobe Bryant shared a photo of infant Capri about two weeks after her arrival on June 20, 2019

Proud papa: Kobe Bryant shared a photo of infant Capri about two weeks after her arrival on June 20, 2019

Lovely: In all, the Bryants parented four daughters together, including Gigi, Natalia and Bianka

Lovely: In all, the Bryants parented four daughters together, including Gigi, Natalia and Bianka

Kobe and Gigi Bryant died on January 26, 2020 when the helicopter they were riding in crashed into the hills in the Calabasas region of Los Angeles.

The basketball legend was 41-years-old and his daughter was only 13-years-old.

Seven other people, several of whom were Gianna’s young basketball teammates, also died in the crash.  

This week the mother of four explained why she and her daughter Natalia, 17, decided to block fan pages on Instagram. 

RIP: Kobe and Gigi Bryant died on January 26, 2020 when the helicopter they were riding in crashed into the hills in the Calabasas region of Los Angeles

RIP: Kobe and Gigi Bryant died on January 26, 2020 when the helicopter they were riding in crashed into the hills in the Calabasas region of Los Angeles

She said they decided to make the move because it had been “ready hard” for her and Natalia to see seemingly never-ending images of her late husband and Gianna. 

‘Thx so much of all the [love],’ Vanessa began. 

‘@nataliabryant and I have unfortunately had to block fan pages because it’s been really hard to go online and constantly see pics of our beloved Gigi and Kobe under every single square of our explore pages.’

She added, ‘Blocking the fan pages has helped change the algorithm.’

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant were married for more than 18 years at the time of his tragic death. 

Longtime loves: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant were married for more than 18 years at the time of his tragic death;  the couple are pictured together at the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar party

Longtime loves: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant were married for more than 18 years at the time of his tragic death;  the couple are pictured together at the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar party