PRIDE AND JOY
Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa posts sweet Instagram video of daughter Bianca, 3, on NBA legend’s 42nd birthday
VANESSA Bryant paid tribute to her late husband Kobe with a sweet Instagram video on what would have been his 42nd birthday.
In the cute clip, youngest daughter Bianka can be seen playing in a bright pink Range Rover toy outside their house.
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The three-year-old can be heard saying: "I want to go over there!" in the video, before Vanessa says: "Nope, we are going to master this first."
Frustrated, Bianka asks her mom "why" before resting her head on the side of the play car.
Vanessa, who lost husband Kobe in January this year, giggled as she got a close up of Bianka's grumpy expression.
On Sunday, Vanessa said she wished how she could "wake up from this horrible nightmare" on Sunday.
NBA legend Kobe and daughter Gianna, 13, both died in a tragic helicopter crash in January this year.
She wrote a tear-jerking letter to her husband and shared it with her 14 million followers: "To my baby - Happy birthday.
I miss your big hugs, your kisses, your smile, your loud a** deep laugh.
"I love you and miss you more than I can ever explain. I wish you and Gigi were here to celebrate YOU!"
"I wish I could make you your fav food or a birthday cake with my Gigi.
"I miss your big hugs, your kisses, your smile, your loud a** deep laugh."
She went on to say how she was forcing herself to stay strong for her surviving children Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
“I've been completely broken inside. As much as I want to cry, I put a smile on my face to make our daughters' days shine a little brighter.”
She continued: “I'm not the strong one, they are. They’re strong and resilient. I’m sure you’re proud of them. They put a smile on my face everyday.”
But tragically, Vanessa said she wished she had died before her husband and daughter because it was too painful to live without them.
"I I wish I could wake up from this horrible nightmare. I'm mad I didn't go first," she said.
"I always wanted to go first so that I selfishly didn’t have to feel this heartache. You were supposed to miss me. Gigi was supposed to be here with her sisters. It should’ve been me."
I've been completely broken inside. As much as I want to cry, I put a smile on my face to make our daughters' days shine a little brighter
She added: “I know my Gigi is celebrating you like she always has on our special days. I miss my thoughtful princess so much.”
Natalia, 17, also shared a touching post on her Instagram page.
With a old snap of her giggling as Kobe tickled her chin, she wrote: "I miss your smile, laugh, big bear hugs. Happy birthday to the best movie buddy I could have ever asked for.
"I will always remember our late night drives to the movie theatre with the windows rolled down and listening to our favourite songs.
"I love you forever and always. Always, Slim."
In May, Vanessa paid tribute to her daughter Gianna would have turned 14.
She wrote: "Happy 14th Birthday to my sweet baby girl, Gianna,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Mummy loves you more than I can ever show you. You are part of MY SOUL forever.”
FOREVER AND ALWAYS
A slew of famous friends including Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and Kris Jenner also sent gifts to the family and posted messages of support wishing the late star a happy birthday.
Thoughtful A-list pals sent bouquets of flowers to the family, as well as a selection of some of Kobe's favourite snacks including salty popcorn and Sour Patch Kids.
Nike has also declared this week this week as Mamba Week and Sunday Mamba Day, donating $1 million to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which aims to further Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s legacy through charitable endeavors in sports, according to their Instagram.
The company also posted a touching tribute video, narrated by Kendrick Lamar.
The death of the much-loved NBA star sent shockwaves of grief throughout the world in what was a catastrophic start to an unprecedented year.
BROKEN INSIDE
Investigations are continuing into the crash on January 26 that also killed seven other people in Calabasas, California.
In June, new details emerged about the crash as 1,700 pages of reports were released by the National Transportation Safety Board.
It revealed pilot Ara Zobayan told air traffic controllers he was climbing when he was actually descending before the crash.
The pilot also told passengers that the weather was looking "okay" in text messages before the planned departure.
Kobe, a five-time NBA champion, was travelling with his daughter and others for a basketball game at Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.
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Most other air traffic that morning - including LAPD choppers - were grounded due to fog and rain.
The N72EX chopper had been reportedly flying at about 184 miles-per-hour in "blinding fog".
It then plunged more than 1,000 feet in about a minute, crash-landing into a fireball on a mountainside at 9.46am.
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