A Dad Welcomes His Daughter Into the World... Virtually

U.S. Air Force Maj. Herb Meadows knew he wouldn't be around to witness the birth of his baby daughter while deployed half a world away in Afghanistan... not in person anyway.

But through the use of Skype, an Internet communication service, and with the help of some dedicated staffers at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey, he got the next best thing: an opportunity to watch the birth in real time through a Web cast.

"I was definitely there; she just didn't yell at me," he laughingly told the Star-Ledger.

Meadows virtually remained by his wife, Corinne's, side from the moment she checked into the hospital late Monday night. Hospital staff placed a computer monitor and Web cam on top of a cart that followed Corinne wherever she went. "You feel like R2-D2 going down the hall," Meadows joked.

But the technology allowed the military man to see his daughter enter the world, let out her first cry, receive her first bath and get her first set of shots.

Little Niyah Grace Meadows officially joined civilization at 4:11 a.m. EST on Tuesday. Proud papa took in the amazing moment while sitting in a dimly-lit bedroom in Kabul. However, he gets to meet his newest family member in November -- and he can't wait.

"I have 51 days left," he said, "and it seems like an eternity."

We can only imagine what that reunion will be like.

Photo courtesy of Tasa_ via stock.xchang.