Joel Madden gushes about parenthood

Rocker Joel Madden gushed that parenthood has turned him and girlfriend Nicole Richie into "the luckiest two people alive".

"I had no idea what love even was until Harlow came along," Madden, 28, wrote on the website of his clothing company, DCMA Collective.

"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."

Madden adds, about his new baby Harlow Winter Kate: "She's already growing too fast!"

Sexy Simple Life star Richie, 26, is doing well and enjoying parenthood as much as Madden, he says. Their tiny daughter was born January 11.

"Me and her mother feel like the luckiest two people alive right now," Madden says. "This time in our life has been amazing.

"We both look at our little girl every single moment every day 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 it's 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 every day, or how harsh people can be as a result of it.

"Having this baby has really made me realise 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 that's where music, and art come in to save the day."

The Good Charlotte rocker then told of his sadness over the shocking death of Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger, in New York this week.

"My heart goes out to Heath Ledger's family. Too young. too soon. too loved to be gone."