After nearly six rambunctious seasons filled with hot-tub hookups, prowling for "gorilla juice heads," fist-pumping (and fights) at Karma, shifts at the Shore Store and penne-fueled Sunday dinners, our favorite housemates from MTV's "Jersey Shore" reminded us that they are first and foremost famiglia.
In the hours leading up to and since the birth of Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi's baby, Lorenzo Dominic LaValle, on Sunday (August 26), the cast has been showering the new mommy, fiancé Jionni and their newborn with well-wishes — not to mention the promise of Seaside-approved gear for the 6-lber.
Demonstrating that he's taking his new role as "uncle" very seriously, Pauly D told MTV News exclusively in a statement, "So happy for Snooks and Jionni, can't wait to meet the newest addition to our 'Shore' family, Baby Lorenzo! Uncle Pauly is ready to teach the lil' dude how to DJ!" (On Twitter, the "Pauly D Project" star added the hilarious hashtag #MyMeatballHadAMeatball.)
Roommate Ronnie went online to send the expectant mother some useful words of encouragement just as we confirmed that leopard-print-loving Snooks was in labor around 11 p.m. ET on Saturday night. "Congratulations to @snooki !!! Luv ya baby sis! Remember breathe and push!!" he urged.
Within a few hours, little Lorenzo was breathing New Jersey air, having been delivered just before 3 a.m. at Livingston's Saint Barnabas Medical Center. JWoww, Snooki's partner in crime in the new "Shore" spinoff "Snooki & JWOWW," quickly RT'd MTV News' birth announcement to her nearly 3 million followers.
But while her "Jersey" homeys were sending her online love, Snooki didn't stay off her phone for long, gushing that she was "SO IN LOVE" with her newborn.
With news that little Lorenzo had arrived, Ronnie just wanted to make sure his new nephew was, as they say in Seaside, fresh to death. "@snooki & @JLaValle make sure you Get me the baby shoe size, start dressing him in some #Jordans ASAP!! Congratulations!#BabyLorenzo," he ordered the new parents.
Nicole's girls tweeted their glee, too, with Sammi writing, "Congrats @snooki !!!!! So happy for you," followed by some heart-shaped emoticons. Deena chimed in to her pint-size partner: "Congratulations meatball ! @snooki and@JLaValle love you both! <3 I can't wait to see him!!!"
But nothing was quite as warm and fuzzy as the notes from the first-time parents. A proud Jionni seemed to be still trying to grasp the enormity of the event. "I'll never forget old high school memories or the vacations I been on with my boys, I will also never forget 8/26/12 the day my son was born!" Jionni wrote.
Snooki, though, remarked that the couple are quickly taking to parenthood.
"Being a mom is an amazing feeling!!! I love my little man to death! Jionni is such a cute dad. @JLaValle," Snooki shared with fans this morning.
Leave your well-wishes for Snooki and her new family in the comments below!
Stay with MTV News and MTV's Remote Control Blog for ongoing coverage of Baby Lorenzo Dominic.
