Gina Rodriguez Shares Her Son Charlie's Adorable Nickname for Her“ Lucky 13 ”Co-Host Shaquille O’Neal (Exclusive)
Rodriguez welcomed her son with husband Joe LoCicero in early 2023
Gina Rodriguez's newest costar has made a big impression on her little boy — and not just because he's so tall.
While chatting with PEOPLE about her new show Lucky 13, a high-stakes game show the Jane the Virgin alum co-hosts with Shaquille O'Neal, the star, 40, shared that her son Charlie Ray, whom she welcomed in early 2023, is a big fan of the NBA icon — and the feeling is mutual.
"We took a picture of my little baby Charlie in [Shaq's] shoes. It's just the best picture in the entire world," Rodriguez shares. "We put it on a T-shirt and we gave it to him as a present. It was just the best because [Charlie] calls him Tío Shaq."
"When we saw the first episode [of Lucky 13], Charlie looked at the screen and said, 'Tío Shaq,' and wasn't even fazed it was me," she continues.
"I was like, 'What about Mom?' I'm like, 'Mama's right there!' And he was like, 'Tío Shaq, Tío Shaq!'"
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Rodriguez shares her son with husband Joe LoCicero.
In February, the actress appeared on PEOPLE in 10 where she spoke about celebrating her son Charlie's first birthday. While discussing how the past year has been, the proud mom remembered where she was at that time the year prior.
"This first year...you know, last year this week we were in the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] because my son had a little more difficult experience after coming out," the star shared.
"And to think now...of course now I'm going to cry. To think now that we have this healthy, vivacious, loving, so loving little boy...there's so much gratitude in the journey. It's laughs and tears."
Speaking to PEOPLE in April 2023 about her son's moniker, Rodriguez revealed that his first and middle names are both inspired by family members who have since died.
"So Charlie holds a lot of beautiful ancestors in his name," she said.
At the time, the star said she was "in newborn heaven, honestly."
Noting how each and every day brings "a new best moment," the star explained, "He's completely developing and evolving every single day. It went from him not making eye contact to making eye contact, him not smiling to smiling."
"He's starting to giggle. Every day is a new something. I swear, sometimes it's a nap and he wakes up and there's a new something, and you're just mind-blown," she added. "He's so freaking adorable, and you just want to eat him up."
Lucky 13 airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.