Today is Harlow Madden’s first birthday. She was born exactly one year ago today, early in the morning at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Harlow was a healthy 6lbs 7 oz.

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s baby girl has had an exciting first year. She seems to travel everywhere with mom and dad, from the set of Chuck and to Hawaii.

Here’s a really sweet fan video looking back on Harlow’s first year:

Harlow appears to be an adorable, inquisitive and happy child, who is undisturbed by the paparazzi who constantly follows her and her parents. She’s a girly-girl who loves tights and bows!

I wonder what exciting plans Joel and Nicole have in store for Harlow’s first birthday. I imagine it’s going to be a fun themed-party, like Disney princesses! What sort of party would you throw for Harlow?

Harlow Madden may not even be a year old yet, but her Unlce Benji has already got an eye on her romantic life.

Benji was partying in Las Vegas at Hard Rock Hotel’s Body English on New Year’s Even when People caught up with him.

“I’m going to be keeping a close eye on her,” Benji told the magazine. “I’ll leave the shotgun right by the door.”

He also talked about what great parents Nicole and Joel have become over the past year and how much he loves being an uncle.

I think it’s sweet Benji has plans to look out for Harlow as she grows up, but he better be joking about the shotgun!

2008 was the year Nicole Richie really turned her life around. She became a mother, got back into acting, launched a jewelry line and discovered a passion for children and charity work.

Nicole amazed me this year, and here’s a look back at her 4 best moments of 2008.

4) Launching House of Harlow 1960

Lots of celebrities foray into clothing and accessories, and Nicole is no exception. This was a year filled with rumors about Nicole-that she was launching a baby clothing line, a maternity line and jump-starting her music career. Her costume jewelry line, named after daughter Harlow, proved to be one rumor that was true! The line, which is available at Kitson, wonderfully reflects contemporary trends and Nicole’s personal style. It’s been quite a success, so who knows what Nicole will work on next.

3) Her guest appearance on Chuck

2008 was the year we saw Nicole get back to work. She appeared in a October episode of Chuck, playing a former high school cheerleader and current bad girl. This stint showed Hollywood that Nicole can carry her own weight in acting roles. Hopefully this means we’ll see more of Nicole on the small screen in the future.

2) Launching the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation

Nicole and the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation did a lot of great things in 2008. The foundation was officially launched in November 2007, but it came to its own this year. They are one of the first charities to actively take social media and new technology as a forum to raise awareness and funds for causes they believe in, including “Text CHILD to 90999“, “Facebook Fruitcake” and launching a MySpace page for the foundation. Nicole got personally involved by visiting a shelter and becoming an ambassador for UNICEF. Joel was in on the action and he visited the Central Republic of Africa with his brother earlier this year.

1) Giving birth to Harlow

Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience. Looking back on the other aspects of this list and you can’t help but notice the impact Harlow has had on Nicole’s decisions over the past year, from her charity work to her jewelry line. Celebs everywhere praised Nicole for her mothering skills and for all she accomplished this year. While rumors fly that Nicole is looking to expand the Richie-Madden clan, we can only wonder what she’s going to do next.

Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know what your favorite Nicole moment was in 2008!

The National Enquirer is reporting that big changes are coming in Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s lives-that they are planning on getting married and settling down in Maryland, Joel’s home state.

According to the mag, the twosome are planning a spring wedding that will also act as a goodbye to LA party. The guest list will be a who’s who of young Hollywood and everyone from Paris Hilton to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen to Lindsay Lohan will be in attendance.

I think this is a load of crap. Nicole has been open about her desire to take on more acting roles and both have companies with bases in Los Angeles. That, combined with the fact this is the four hundred thousandth rumor about a Richie-Madden wedding, makes me think their “source” has no idea what they are talking about.

However, if Nicole and Joel did want to move out of LA, Maryland would be a good choice. Joel’s family is there and it’s far away from the media spotlight.

Nicole Richie was seen taking daughter Harlow to a birthday party on Sunday afternoon. I have no idea who the party is for (any celebrity babies born around this time?), but Jessica Alba and her daughter Honor were invited as well!

Nicole looked cute with her hair up in a peasant’s braid, however I think Harlow might be the cutest girl in this video. I love her little headband. Recently, Nicole revealed that Harlow is becoming quite the fashionista and loves girly things like tights and bows! I can’t wait until she’s a little older and running around in Mary Janes and party dresses!

Nicole Richie chatted with USA Today about her jewelry line, House of Harlow 1960, Harlow’s budding fashion sense and what it’s like raising a child as a celebrity.

Harlow may only be 11 months old, but she’s already a budding fashionista.

“She likes to dress up. You can see it in her face. She just loves dressing up; she loves putting on tights and bows and stuff like that,” Nicole says to the paper. “I’m not too caught up in her fashion at the moment. I just let her wear what’s comfortable for her. But she loves those tights.”

Nicole is grateful that she can provide Harlow with everything she needs, but she wishes she could take her to the park once in a while without photographers present.

The article is pretty short, but it’s a nice look at Nicole as a mom and jewelry designer today. You can read the article here.

People is having a poll to find out what name you think was the best baby name of 2008, but Baby Names has already decided-and their winner is Harlow Winter Kate Madden. Over 5,000 of their members voted in the poll!

Hrlow faced some tough competition as celebs went for names like Knox, Vivienne, Bronx, Sunday, Coco, Emme, Max and more. But Harlow’s balance between glamorous and unusual is what put her over the top.

“The celebrities did pretty well this year in baby naming,” says BabyNames.com founder and CEO Jennifer Moss in a press release. “Harlow Winter Kate is a glamorous name, without being too unusual.”

I think Nicole and Joel were on the money with this naming pick. I’m glad the baby name community agrees!

People wants to know which baby name of 2008 you think is the best! They’ve rounded up all the 2008 celebrity babies and want you to decide.

Harlow Winter Kate Madden is up against some pretty stiff competition, including Sunday Rose, Knox Leon, Vivienne Marcheline, Nahla Ariela, Zuma Nesta Rock, Honor Marie, Levi Alves and Bronx Mowgli.

You can cast your vote here. Which baby name do you think is the best name of 2008?

Harlow is also up for Best Baby Style. She’s up against Suri Cruise, D’Lila Star & Jessie James, Valentina Paloma, Liam McDermott, Matilda Rose Ledger, Kingston Rossdale and more. Vote for Harlow here.

Mom Nicole is up for Best Body after Baby and Best Behaved Star. Tell us who you voted for in the comments!

Yesterday, X17 Online reported that Nicole Richie was looking mighty suspicious cake shopping in a back booth of the Chateau Marmont last week. The cake, however, is not for Nicole’s rumored wedding. Instead, it’s for Harlow’ first birthday.

Why are they planning Harlow’s birthday so early? Nicole is appearing on an episode of the new show The Party People, which stars Tre Anderson, a party planner for the stars.

According to X17, Tre is also filming an episode with Whitney Port from The Hills.

I would so watch this show. I feel it would be an even bigger, better version of My Super Sweet Sixteen. I couldn’t find any other information about this show, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled! I’d love to see the episode about Harlow’s birthday!

I must say that I am sick of Nicole Richie and Joel Madden wedding rumors. They will get married when they are ready and when it’s right for them.

The latest rumor claims that Nicole and Joel are making plans to get hitched on January 11, 2009-Harlow’s first birthday.

“They want to set an example for Harlow. Nicole and Joel are doing this to seal their love legally,” a source claims. “They want the ceremony to coincide with Harlow’s first birthday and be one big joyous occasion for everybody.”

Nicole’s dad, Lionel, is said to be paying for the romantic event, and that a bidding war is taking place for the photographs.

This rumor has taken several different forms since Nicole and Joel got together. I’ll believe it when I see it. Also, while getting married on Harlow’s birthday seems like a sweet idea, wouldn’t it be a problematic gesture for future children? What will you do for them that would be just as special?