Nicole Richie on dancing, nursing, and her foundation

For nursing mom Nicole Richie, life is currently broken up into three-hour increments. During a free period, while hosting the Shop for a Cause at Diane von Furstenberg (which benefited Nicole and partner Joel Madden‘s Richie-Madden Foundation), Nicole chatted with Us Weekly about the balance of motherhood and the new perspective that inspired her charity.

[Harlow Winter Kate] is only 3 months old and eats every three hours: Everything I do is in a three-hour time frame, but I’m getting back into the swing of things!

I get up at 7:30 so I am fresh and prepared by the time she wakes up at 8. [Joel and I] put on a concert for her every morning. We have Disney music and a whole dance! He’ll kill me when he finds out I told you!

Formerly a fixture on the young Hollywood club and party circuit, many were surprised to see Nicole do a complete 180 after finding out she was expecting. Inspired by the baby she was carrying, Nicole, 26, and Joel, 29, began a foundation, assisting pregnant and new mothers in the Los Angeles area.

When I got pregnant, my friends and family gave us so much stuff, I wanted to help give other mothers that feeling. It’s not fair some women get pregnant and their first thought is, ‘How am I going to put food on the table and how will I clothe them?’

I think when Harlow is old enough to know she helped me do this, she will be really happy.

Source: US Weekly; May 19th issue; Photo by x17.

Comments

I really, honestly just love her so much. I loved old Nicole but I am so happy to hear about this change in her.

- Caitlin on May 7th, 2008

I’m so glad that having Harlow turned her life around. She seems like a totally different person.

And I absolutely love the idea of the charity they started. I know of people who would LOVE to have more children but just cannot afford it. It’s great that Nicole is helping mothers and hopefully it will branch out to other areas of the US.

- Kodie on May 7th, 2008

I’m am literally in love with Nicole Richie. I liked her before but now its a whole new level. I always knew she had such great potential!

- Dani on May 7th, 2008

Where in the interview did she say she was still nursing?

- HardCandy on May 7th, 2008

On the printed page it is mentioned right after the “every three hours” piece in parentheses. I didn’t include it here since it wasn’t part of the direct quote — she’s been pretty open about breastfeeding so I thought readers would know that was what she was referring to, needing to get back home to nurse.

I would pay money to see their little Disney song and dance. I bet that’s hilarious!

- Sarah on May 7th, 2008

I love this family. The new photoshoot they did for Harpers Bazaar magazine is amazing, too. Harlow looks so much like Joel.

- joely moley on May 7th, 2008

I didn’t think much of Nicole when she was out partying with Paris but now I think she’s wonderful! I think its fantastic Nicole and Joel are doing charity work and are thinking of and helping out other new Mums and I am pleased to hear she still breastfeeding.

Kudos Nicole

- Sam on May 7th, 2008

OMG, I’d pay to see big, tattooed Joel do that Disney dance for Harlow. When a man has no qualms about looking like a goof because it makes her happy, that’s when you know a girl has her daddy’s heart! Cutest thing ever!

As for Nicole, she has morphed into this outstanding and fabulously normal woman! I’m constantly amazed at how nurturing and wonderful of a mother she is, not to mention the human being she has set out to become since she found out she was pregnant. I guess all along what she needed was something bigger and more important than herself to focus on.

Bravo to them both!

- Grayson's Girl on May 7th, 2008

I love this little family.

- Fan on May 7th, 2008

I love nicole.

- brooke on May 8th, 2008

When I taught at a pre-school I had the group that focused on helping potty-train. One of the little girls picked it up incredibly fast and was so proud of herself. One afternoon she had an accident and was upset the whole rest of the day even though we tried to tell her it was okay. When her dad came to pick her up, you could tell she was embarrassed about what happened. Well this GIANT construction worker of a man just looked at her and started singing “Accidents Happen” by Elmo (I guess it’s on a potty training video) and did a little dance in the middle of my classroom. The smile she gave him made me tear up.

I have such an amount of respect for parents who let themselves be completely silly for their children.

That LONG story being told, this little family makes my heart smile. Kudos to them everything they are doing for their little girl and moms-to-be everywhere!

- Jackie on May 8th, 2008

It’s not fair some women get pregnant and their first thought is, ‘How am I going to put food on the table and how will I clothe them?’

I think when Harlow is old enough to know she helped me do this, she will be really happy.
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Bravo Nicole..BRAVO!!!!

- Bren on May 8th, 2008

I don’t know about anybody else, but I sure can’t wait until they get MARRIED!

- anne on May 9th, 2008

Oh, she is fast becoming one of my favorite celebrity mothers! I love her foundation and her whole new outlook on life.

- Stephany on May 12th, 2008