Nicole Richie says of motherhood, “It’s definitely like nothing I could have imagined.”

Appearing with her father, Lionel Richie, at the 25th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards in Los Angeles, Nicole, reported Extra, said that life with daughter Harlow, who was born in January, is “beyond amazing, and my family has been supportive. And I go to my dad’s house all the time.”

Nicole, 26, says Lionel, 58, is also meeting his grandfatherly obligations as well. “He actually babysat the other day – him and Joel [Madden, Nicole's fiancé] – and they were amazing. I mean, she slept the whole time.”

Added Lionel: “It’s when the baby wakes up that I freak out!”

Honored with an ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award, Lionel also said of his daughter: “She went from, ‘Dad, I don’t care. Whatever you say.’ To ‘Wash your hands, Dad’ and ‘Be quiet Dad.’ It’s a whole new sound of the house.”

Speaking of sounds, there was the matter of how he was to be addressed now that his child has had one of her own.

“I went to Nicole and said, ‘Grandpa,’ how does that sound? Does that fit me?’ She said, ‘Dad, that sounds old.’ So I kind of searched out … G-Pa sounds a lot better.”

(Above Lionel and Nicole are pictured at the event with Nicole’s little sister, Sophia)

Three-month-old Harlow is already burbling out her first words, according to her grandma.

“The other day I was holding her, and Harlow said, ‘Hi!’” Brenda Richie told Us magazine at the ASCAP Pop Awards.

“I said, ‘Nicole, did you hear that?’” Brenda continued. “Nicole said, ‘I don’t think she knew what she was saying!’”

Added Brenda, “Nicole talks to Harlow constantly, and she tries to answer back!”

The baby “is trying to crawl already,” Brenda said.

But Nicole is so protective, Brenda told Us magazine, “I’m lucky if I get to [see] the baby. She loves being with that baby!

“[Harlow's] bathing time has to be right on schedule!” Brenda added. “I was strict with Nicole, and she fought all of it.

“Now here is she is, being the same way I was [with her] — it’s great to see!”

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