Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard welcome baby girl

Actress Kristen Bell and her long time partner Dax Shepard have welcomed their first child, a little girl named Lincoln.

The happy couple announced the news via Twitter, reported Us magazine.

"Lincoln Bell Shepard is here... Hooray," Shepard posted.

The arrival of little girl comes months after Shepard went through the heartache of losing his father.

The 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' star began dating Shepard in 2007 and got engaged two years later. They announced they were expecting their first child back in November although they have been mum about the sex of the baby.

The couple have said they will not tie the knot until gay marriage is made legal in their home state of California, out of respect for their friends.