Larry Birkhead is the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby daughter, Dannielynn, a Bahamian judge ruled Tuesday.


Birkhead said outside the court

"Everybody, I hate to be the one to tell you this -- but I told you so,"

When asked what's next, he said,

"I'm going to the toy store."

Crowds applauded in front of the courthouse as Birkhead, Smith's former boyfriend, made the announcement. Birkhead teared up as he thanked his supporters. A DNA test confirmed him as the father with 99.99 percent certainty, said Dr. Michael Baird, who performed the test.


The court had ordered DNA testing to determine the father of the child, who has been at the center of a paternity dispute since she was born in a Bahamian hospital in September. The doctor who performed a DNA test for Birkhead revealed the results to a closed session of a Bahamian court Tuesday.


Smith had publicly identified Howard K. Stern, her lawyer and live-in companion, as the baby's father and listed him as the father on the child's birth certificate. Stern hugged Birkhead and said he is not going to fight him for custody.


Stern said

"I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure he gets sole custody,"

When asked when Birkhead would get custody of the 7-month-old girl, who has been living with Stern in Nassau, Stern said he wanted there to be a "gradual transition." He said Birkhead could come to the house any time and spend as much time as he wants with his daughter.


Virgie Arthur, Smith's estranged mother who lives in Texas, said she was happy with the outcome. "All I care about is the safety and well-being of my little granddaughter," she said.


Another hearing is set for Friday to discuss the custody issue, which involves Stern, Birkhead and Arthur. It was unclear how Tuesday's news might affect that.