New mom Nicole Richie picks up birthday gifts for her boyfriend, Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden, in West Hollywood on Monday.

Joel and twin brother Benji turn 29 TOMORROW, March 11th.

The 26-year-old former Simple Life star shopped at Alpha: Gear for Gents and a party store to pick up some balloons and party favors. Nicole purchased birthday banners and also greeting cards that read “Pushing 30″ and “You’re the best dad ever and I’m not pulling you leg.”

15+ pictures inside of Nicole Richie prepping her husband’s birthday bash… More Here! »

People magazine has a great photo album of cutie Harlow Madden, almost 8 weeks.

Proud parents Nicole Richie, 26, and Joel Madden, 28, had a lot to say about their daughter.

Nicole on the uniqueness of Harlow’s name: I wanted a hippie name and he wanted a more Biblical name. (Joel cites the actress Jean Harlow and model Shalom Harlow as two major inspirations.)

Joel on how their lives have changed since having a baby: “We have a very mellow life compared to two years ago, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Nicole on having a mother’s instinct: “She’s never out of my mind. I stop doing things for me anymore. Everything is for her.”

Nicole on Harlow waking up from a nap: “I was watching her in her crib. And she happened to wake up and I was like, ‘Good morning!” And she smiled and it was the cutest thing ever.”

Check out the Harlow Madden photo album at People.com.

FYI: Nicole and Joel play her lullaby versions of Radiohead and Nirvana songs for baby Harlow. And according to industry insiders, this issue featuring Nicole also on target to sell more than 1.8 million copies, whereas Christina Aguilera’s cover with her son Max is selling far less.

BROADWAY BOUND

Nicole Richie may be ready to reveal her singing and acting chops in the lead role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical, Chicago.

“She’s definitely interested and weighing it out with the timing of the baby,” a Richie pal tells Us Weekly. “It is in the super early stages of discussions and no decision has been made yet. It would give her a reason to really show her talent and to stay in the new place in NY [boyfriend Joel Madden] just got. It also shows people are really excited about Nicole right now.”

Richie, 26, welcomed daughter Harlow on Jan. 12.

DO YOU THINK Nicole Richie’s Broadway future is bright?

Nicole Richie and daughter Harlow Winter Kate Madden, almost 7 weeks, are on the cover of the People Magazine this week. The issue, on newsstands Friday, talks about who the baby looks like, for whom she was named and who was the first to cry – Nicole, 26, or boyfriend Joel Madden, 28.

Enjoy some of the interview snippets here:

On the six weeks since the baby’s arrival: “It’s almost like I don’t even remember what life was like before her. She gives life a whole new meaning and a whole new purpose.”

On breastfeeding: “There’s just so much I can’t eat because she’s sensitive, I eat really bland [food] – chicken noodle soup, vegetables, fish. I had to cut out milk, no tomatoes, no lettuce. You think you have to cut everything out when you’re pregnant, but you really have to cut everything out when you’re breastfeeding.”

On how long she was in labor: “I don’t know because I don’t know what time I actually went into labor, but I pushed for 10 minutes.”

Harlow’s going to be a hottie!

Nicole Richie shows off her enviable post-baby figure at the Broad Contemporary Art Museum opening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Nicole and Good Charlotte boyfriend Joel Madden (below) are the proud parents of a daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Madden. She turns one-month tomorrow!

Peep Nic’s “H” for Harlow necklace!

10+ pictures inside of Nicole flaunting her post-baby figure… More Here! »

Nicole Richie throws up the peace sign while showing support in the studio for her main man Joel Madden.

Madden just posted a couple of pictures on his official site, saying, “Mr TRU is in town working on his record with THE DEAD EXECUTIVES…hope everyone is ready for the new real gangsta from the south…”

Their daughter Harlow Madden is already two weeks old!

Thanks, Mark!

New parents Nicole Richie and Joel Madden head to her manager/talent agent Benny Medina’s house to celebrate his 50th birthday in Los Angeles on Friday.

Looks like Nicole is already back in shape, showing off her post-pregnancy body in a black hip-hugging dress.

Grandfather Lionel Richie, 58, was also seen at the party with his girlfriend.

Earlier in the day, Joel, 28, and Nicole, 26, were spotted stocking up on nursing supplies at The Pump Station earlier in the day.

Daughter Harlow Madden turned two-weeks-old yesterday. More Here! »

Joel Madden recently blogged about how fast his daughter is growing and how much bad there is out in the world today. The Good Charlotte frontman also sent his condolences to Heath Ledger’s friends and family. Check out his latest blog via DCMACollective:

“[Harlow] is already growing to fast! So I am at home writing this blog before i head to the DCMA store, and then the DEAD EXEC studio to work. I swear it’s so hard to leave during the day, but always so rewarding to come home to the little family. I’ve always been a guy who loves to love. Probably one of the things that define me outside of my work is LOVE. I had no idea what love even was until Harlow came along.

Me and her mother feel like the luckiest two people alive right now. This time in our life has been amazing. We both look at our little girl every single moment everyday and know there is nothing we wouldn’t do to protect her and her perfect little innocence. It seems like you turn on the TV, or get online and its all bad news.

We don’t want her to know any of that yet. I actually never want her to know any of the pain and suffering we see out in the world everyday, or how harsh people can be as a result of it. Having this baby has really made me realize we all start out that way, then somewhere along the way something happens and people go one way or the other. But all started out sweet and innocent just like my little daughter. The world could really make you bitter if you let it, but thats where music, and art come in to save the day.

You’ve got to surround yourself with the things you love. The whole point to DCMA and this site is a bunch of us friends doing what we love, surrounding ourselves with positivity. I want my kid to grow up around that.

My heart goes out to Heath Ledger’s family. Too young. too soon. too loved to be gone. It almost seems pointless to say this with the state of the media today, but I hope people will respect what his child and her mother are going thru right now and give them space. May God be with them.

So this one was especially long today on the writing side, I apologize it all just got me thinking.”

Check out the pictures below of Joel sporting a Gucci diaper bag and him modeling in the latest DCMA catalog: