AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — A Central Texas family had to get creative for the birth of their first grandchild this Thanksgiving.

“It’s just the sign of the times, right?” asked Jeff Schneider, a grandfather to be. “I mean, we can’t go up because of COVID and be with our daughter so we had to do the next best thing.”

His family decided since they couldn’t be as close as they wanted to for their granddaughter’s arrival, they drove down and tailgated in the parking lot of the St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas.

Their daughter, Jessica Nauman, had been in labor since 3 a.m., and as of about 6 p.m., baby girl had not joined the world yet.

Still they waited — in view of Jessica’s hospital room with their Thanksgiving meal, signs and balloons — cheering her on.

The family later told NewsNation affiliate KXAN the baby had finally been born at 7:15 p.m., and weighed in at seven pounds, four ounces and was 20 inches long.

“I just thought, let’s do something really big and special and just show her support that we’re here for her,” said Wendy Schneider, anxiously waiting to hold her granddaughter in her arms for the first time.