Pauly D of 'Jersey Shore' reveals he's a father

Former "Jersey Shore" star Paul DelVecchio, aka Pauly D, became a first-time father a few months ago, the reality-show star revealed Tuesday to TMZ.com.

"I'm proud I'm a father," he told the website. "I am excited to embark on this new part of my life."

TMZ reported that the months-old baby girl lives with her unidentified, New Jersey-born mother, 26. The belated news arose, the site said, after the mother filed documents with a New Jersey court to formally establish paternity, though TMZ added DelVecchio, 33, had already privately confirmed paternity with a DNA test.

The baby was conceived while DelVecchio, an in-demand deejay, was spinning records in Las Vegas, where he and the mother-to-be met.

"I'm so happy for Pauly," his castmate Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi told E! News Tuesday. "Definitely a shock to all of us but we know Pauly the best and he's going to be an amazing father. He's so loving and caring. I can't wait for Lorenzo [Polizzi's son] and her to play!"

"Holy ---- , I just heard!" fellow castmate Jenni "JWoww" Farley told E!. "I'm so ---- happy for him. I just texted him. Crying! He's going to be the best dad ever!"

DelVecchio, who is originally from Rhode Island, told People magazine last year when Polizzi was pregnant with her child, that, "I want to be 'Uncle Pauly,' and I want to be a part of that baby's life, because Snooki is one of my best friends."

Polizzi and fiance Jionni LaValle's son, Lorenzo, the only other "Jersey Shore" baby thus far, was born in August 2012.