Like any working parent, Billy Crawford fears that he is not spending enough time with Amari, his one-year-old son with wife Coleen Garcia.
That's why hearing Amari call him "daddy" for the very first time was a very special moment.
In a recent interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) via Zoom, Billy said, "Siguro the most unforgettable out of all is, natawag niya na akong 'daddy.' That’s the best, best thing."
The Lunch Out Loud host admitted that he was scared being away at work most of the time that his baby boy would not know how to say "daddy."
Billy continued, "Kasi natatakot na ako kasi, marunong na siya mag-'mama,' marunong na siya mag-'mommy.'
"Kahit nga yung pusa namin kayang-kaya niyang sabihin, '[meow],' gumaganun siya, e, di ba? Pero sa akin hindi niya talaga masabi, 'dada' or 'daddy.'"
Eventually, the magical moment happened.
Billy proudly recounted the moment and said, "'Tapos one day lang talaga, naririnig ko siya. Sabi ko, 'Ano sinasabi niya?' Sabi niya, 'dada-dada.'
"'Tapos sabi ko, 'Daddy!' Sabi niya, 'dada-daddy, daddy.' Sabi ko, 'Yes! Sinabi niya daddy!'
"Di ba? Yun, hanggang ngayon nagda-daddy pa rin.'"
Billy jokingly ended, "Pero sana, hindi niya tawagin yung aso kong 'daddy.'"
AMARI'S CUTE POTTY MOMENTS
Because they spend so little time together, even Amari's poop sessions have become precious moments for Billy.
He recalled one of Amari's funny potty sessions which happened sometime in late September 2021.
Billy told PEP.ph, "Si Coleen kasi... Nandito ako sa, well, sa family room, siguro mga ala-una, ano 12:30 or 12:45 ng umaga.
"Bigla niya [Coleen] lang binuksan yung pintuan karga-karga niya si baby. Mind you, tulog na si baby at 7 p.m. ha, 7 p.m. tulog na si baby.
"Bigla siyang gumising 'tapos sabi ni Coleen sa akin, 'Love, do you want to help me wash his puwet?'"
At that time, Billy noted Amari just recovered from his sickness.
"Kasi sobrang daming kinain the night before, as in daming kinain because nga may sakit siya for the past week, di ba?
"E. siguro ginanahang kumain for the first time ulit, kumain nang kumain ayun, natae ng alas-dose ng umaga."
The funniest part was when Amari started playing the piano while finishing his potty session.
Billy continued, "'Tapos, dinala [ni Coleen] dito siyempre, hindi pa siya tapos. Nagpi-piano siya dito. Nagpi-piano siya dito 'tapos palipat-lipat.
"'Tapos nung okay-okay na siya, yun, dinala na namin dun, hinugasan ko yung puwet niya. Yung parang nakakaaliw lang, it’s so unforgettable."