These are photos of Nicole Richie at Paris fashion week earlier this month, and once again, I am marvelling at how she’s left former BFF Paris Hilton languishing in the dust. During their “Simple Life” days, Paris was kind of a big deal, and everyone just kind of looked at Nicole as the unkempt, somewhat funny sidekick. Now Nicole has completely remade herself with a fashion mini-empire, and she’s pretty stable with two kids and a family life and everything.

While there have been buzzings around Nicole and Joel having trouble while he’s away in Australia filming “The Voice,” I think they’re actually fine. In fact, Joel has been gushing about Nicole a lot lately by admitting he had to beg Nicole to date him, and he wrote a sweet letter: “Sometimes I keep it to myself and sometimes I can’t help myself and I gotta tell the whole world how much I love her. I feel like the luckiest man alive to have my wife and kids. When the world outside breaks me down, they build me back up. Hope everyone out there finds this kind of love.” Hmm. I have a feeling that if, say, a woman would have written that note, we’d find it suspicious, but with Joel it seems authentic, right? We’ll see.

Nicole recently appeared on Chelsea Handler’s show, and Chelsea asked her about motherhood stuff. In response, Nicole said she’s really not looking to have another kid anytime soon, and she’s also tired of how moms talk about everything that goes on with their kids. Here are some highlights:

Nicole Richie is glad to be done with diaper duty. During an Apr. 23 appearance on Chelsea Lately, the Fashion Star mentor and mom to Harlow, 5, and Sparrow, 3, revealed she’s not sure she’s ready for a third child.

“You haven’t had a baby in forever. What’s your problem?” host Chelsea Handler joked. “Are you being selfish right now?”

Richie fired back, “I’m just chillin’. Let me just chill! I really like that they’re doing their own thing. They’re at school until 3. I don’t have to, like, look after them — or even think about them! It’s like every other day.”

When asked point blank if she wants to expand her family, Richie replied, “I don’t know.” Unlike some mothers, Joel Madden’s wife said she’s not one to brag about her kids’ every attribute. “They want to talk about their spit-up and how cute their boogers are. I try to not be that mom,” she explained. “I know what is really cute and what I only think is cute.”

The former “Simple Life” star is enjoying some free time now that her children are becoming more independent. In fact, Richie recently went on a childless vacation with a group of friends (including fellow mother of two Jessica Alba). “Everyone left their kids at home,” the 31-year-old House of Harlow designer said. “It worked out great.”

[From Us Weekly]

I agree that, in general, moms tend to give too much TMI about their kids, and I try really hard not to fall into that trap, but it happens sometimes. Also, I can totally understand why Nicole might be relishing her private time at the moment and why she’d be reluctant to give that up for another baby. Babies are so much work, and it’s great that Nicole can admit she’s probably not willing to deal with diapers again. Honesty!

Photos courtesy of WENN