FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Until last week, Clark Stevens had no idea he was a dad.

"I got home from training and had a phone call from my Mom and my whole life turned upside down," Stevens said Sunday while holding his infant daughter.

Stevens was in Wisconsin training with his National Guard unit when his mom told him to come home to Auburn because he had a daughter waiting for him.

And little Mariah Verle Stevens is the best surprise Stevens has ever received.

"She's eating a lot, which is good," he said.

Last Saturday the girl's mother abandoned her at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church.

Wrapped in a beach towel, Mariah spent nearly six hours alone in 49-degree temperatures before she was discovered by a parishioner. The infant was was taken to a local hospital, where she was found to be in fair condition.

Doctors believe the baby was no more than 12 hours old.

Investigators released surveillance video showing Mariah being left near a front door, and the mother turned herself in to police on Monday.

Officers said it is not legal to leave a newborn child at a church or other public location, and the case is being investigated as a felony. But police believe the mother left the child at the church, thinking it would be a safe place for her child.

Under the state's safe haven law, mothers can legally drop off infants who are 72 hours old or younger to a qualified personnel at a hospital or a fire station without identifying themselves.

Stevens says the woman who left Mariah at the church is his ex-girlfriend, who apparently hid the pregnancy from everyone -- including her own family.

Stevens said he has full custody of Mariah, and his mother, Wendy, is helping take care of his new daughter.

"A few days ago my house was just a normal house," she said. "Now it's got all these strollers and swings."

Stevens is bonding with his daughter, but he won't be holding her for much longer.

The training in Wisconsin was in preparation for his unit's deployment to Iraq. He leaves this week and is expected to be deployed for 10 months.

But he'll be thinking about Mariah.

"Every day," he said. "I'm already addicted to her."

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If you'd like to help, an education fund has been established for Mariah Stevens.

Checks made out to the Mariah Stevens Benevolent Account can be sent to:

Boeing Employees Credit Union
PO Box 97050
Seattle, WA 98124

Please write account # 3581874762 on the check. Donations may also be made in person at any BECU branch.