Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio may be excited to be a father, but he reportedly wasn't even aware he has a daughter until several months after her birth.

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The former Jersey Shore star just learned last month that his Las Vegas one-night stand Amanda Markert gave birth to their daughter Amabella on May 15, E! News reported.

Ever since, DelVecchio has reportedly been fighting for primary custody of Amabella and is in full-on father mode, trying to ultimately prove Markert -- a VIP hostess and former Hooters waitress -- is an unfit mother.

"My No. 1 focus is my daughter," The Pauly D Project star told In Touch Weekly in its November 11 issue.

"Everything in my life will now revolve around her and what's best for her. I cannot wait to meet her. I've never been so excited in my entire life. I'm proud to be a father, and I'm ready for it."

DelVecchio reportedly wanted to keep the names of his daughter and baby mama a secret so the child wouldn't have to deal with paparazzi and could live a "normal life."

"He'd like to be able to do this in private," a source told E! News on Thursday of the couple's alleged custody battle. "This whole situation has been incredibly heartbreaking for all involved."

Although TMZ recently reported Markert won't allow DelVecchio to visit Amabella unsupervised and the reality TV star's lawyer is firing back, Markert tweeted on Wednesday she's not trying to keep Amabella away from her father.

"This is getting out of hand, you've had my number since day 1. Come bond with her any day, any time you and your family want," Markert, a New Jersey resident, tweeted to DelVecchio.

"It could all be so simple. Call now. Since we last spoke I don't have any way to get in touch with you directly and I think we can solve this by talking ASAP."

The E! News source added the pair is currently "sorting out the visitation issues."

DelVecchio and Markert reportedly had unprotected sex in Fall 2012 after they met at a party at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's Rehab club where DelVecchio was deejaying.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.