Snooki and little Lorenzo may have been all over the cover of People earlier this week, but mama and baby were nowhere to be seen on the red carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. The brand-new duo were not, however, far from the thoughts of other "Jersey Shore" castmembers.

MTV News' James Montgomery caught up with the cast of "Jersey Shore" — minus Snooki — on the red carpet before the final season of their show, and it got a little bit emotional.

"I'm going to miss you guys," Ronnie said.

"You know, it's bittersweet. We've been through so much together," Pauly D said. "They are actually my family now. They're not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere."

Of course, it wouldn't be the VMAs without at least a little Snooki, so the brand-new mom provided a video message for everyone who might be missing her on the red carpet.

"Hey, what's up, bitches? Me, Jionni and Lorenzo wish we could be there with you guys at the VMAs, but Lorenzo's too small to fist-pump, and I'm working on my guidette status as a MILF," Snooki said in the video. "I hope you guys are missing me on the red carpet, but next year, I will be there in my leopard-print dress, and Lorenzo is going to win a VMA for the Best New Artist. Love you guys. Bye."

Since here at MTV the birth of baby Lorenzo is a family matter, we couldn't let the cast leave without a parting gift to bring back to the new mom. Fittingly, MTV News provided Snooki with a leopard-print diaper bag and a zebra-print onesie.

The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards were a blast! Stick with MTV for all the VMA winners, fashion, and continued coverage of everything that happened onstage, backstage and behind-the-scenes.