The Berry-Aubrys: The Way They Were

Nahla Ariela, 2, gets a boost from mom Halle Berry and dad Gabriel Aubry while visiting the Los Angeles Zoo on April 2, just weeks before the couple split.

Just a week shy of her second birthday, Nahla Aubry hits the sandbox with mom Halle Berry wearing a super cute shirt at Coldwater Canyon Park in Beverly Hills on March 5.

Dinner time! Gabriel Aubry carries daughter Nahla Ariela, 17 months, into Nobu in Malibu, Calif., on Aug. 23. During their four-year romance, Aubry always wanted to expand his family with the Oscar winner, telling PEOPLE, "[Nahla] needs a sibling. I think it's important."

Enjoying some fun in the sun with their beach baby, Gabriel and Halle take a dip with Nahla at Miami's South Beach on July 8. The twosome, who first met in November 2005 while filming a Versace ad, are said to be working out a custody agreement for their 2-year-old.

Halle and Gabriel share a sweet glance while strolling through Los Angeles International Airport with Nahla, 15 months, on July 1. A doting father, Aubrey admitted to pickle runs to help with Berry's cravings while she was pregnant.

What a cutie! Packing up after a fun-filled Memorial Day barbecue, actress Halle Berry carries daughter Nahla Ariela Aubry back to the car.

The inquistive 14-month-old checked out her surroundings -- including the photographers! -- while she waited.

Nahla Ariela Aubry, 11 months, and mom Halle Berry, 42, step out in Malibu on Feb. 28 with dad Gabriel Aubry (not pictured), 32. What were some of Nahla's first words? Shares Gabriel, "She doesn't say 'dad.' But she says 'papa,' which is the French version of [dad]."

Greetings from up north! Halle cradles a snuggly Nahla on the Vancouver set of her movie, Frankie and Alice, on Nov. 7. Though the new mom continues to tackle plum movie roles, she told contactmusic.com, "I feel having a baby will open up a whole new world for me… I’m definitely going to work less."

Halle and Nahla share a sweet moment on the swings of a Beverly Hills park on Sept. 21. The actress – who never made a secret of her desire to be a mom – called her daughter "the joy in my life" after welcoming her to the world.

A sleepy-looking Nahla takes to the Manhattan streets for some shopping time with mom and dad on Sept. 8. Gabriel, a French-Canadian, is committed to teaching his daughter (and Halle!) to speak his native language, as well as English. His sister told PEOPLE, "I'm glad that the little one will speak French!"

On a trip to the zoo Aug. 30, a 5-month-old Nahla gets playful with the cameras while strolling with mom and grandma. Halle admits to living life through her daughter all over again, telling Essence "I see everything for the second and third time. I get to recapture my childhood and the wonder of what life is all about."

Hello there! Halle introduces Nahla to the world during a visit to a Los Angeles zoo Aug. 30. The new mom described her love for Nahla to Essence in a way other moms could relate to, saying, "I thought I loved before, but no, I was just playing around. This is… real love. I would take a bullet for this child and think nothing of it."