Nicki Minaj celebrates her son’s 4th birthday.
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper, 41, shared her love for her son, nicknamed Papa Bear, as she celebrated his fourth birthday on Instagram. The proud mom, who shares her son with husband Kenneth “Zoo” Petty, posted a series of silly videos and cute pictures from his life, leaving a sweet message for her little one in the caption.
“Dear #PapaBear, Happy 4th birthday my friend,” she began. “You made mommy and daddy so happy. Ever since you were in mommy’s tummy, you gave me a whole new meaning to life. Hope.”
Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Nicki Minaj’s son: Everything you need to know
In the first photo, the little boy exits the elevator holding hands with his dad, while constantly turning to look at his mom behind the camera. Another cute video shows a toddler “driving” a car while it’s parked.
The post also includes a few memories of Papa Bear as a baby. In one picture, Zoo is holding the star’s son, and in another, she’s babbling and giggling as Minaj holds him.
To close out the carousel, Minaj shared a rare photo of the family of three dressed in identical black outfits.
The PEOPLE Puzzler has arrived! How fast can you solve it? Play now!
Nicki Minaj and Papa Bear.
Nicki Minaj/Instagram
Since becoming a mom, Minaj says she’s “a more forgiving person.”
“I think motherhood has made me see more good in people, more good in the universe,” she said during a February 2022 appearance. The Late Late Show with James Corden.
“When I look at my son, I remind myself that I am so blessed,” she continued. “I realized that for so many women, this is their dream. Their dream is to have a child, and not everyone gets that blessing. So when you have a little baby, you’re reminded every day, ‘Oh my God. Thank you God for this little gift.’ ‘ ”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education