After 9 long months of waiting, you've finally met your little one!

You've probably spent a lot of time preparing for this day, from setting up the nursery to shopping for baby clothes.

Yet you may probably still feel apprehensive and unsure as you hold your baby for the first time.

While you may feel emotionally connected to your baby immediately, the realities and responsibilities of fatherhood may not come naturally.

Unfortunately, unlike your favorite gadgets, newborns don't arrive with instructions attached. You'll need to figure out a lot of things yourself.

This is especially true during the baby's first year, when you're just getting to know them and when they're just getting to know the world.

The first year is also the time when your baby is at their most helpless and vulnerable state... and when they need you the most.

Thankfully, you don't have to enter fatherhood blindly.

Although this is just one year out of hopefully decades of life, your baby's first year is critical in their development.

So many changes take place with your baby, not just physically, but also cognitively, emotionally, and socially.

You'll be surprised by how much your little one grows from week to week and from month to month.

Don't miss these precious moments in your new family's life.

When you know what you're doing and not worrying about every little thing, you'll be able to relish your time with your baby and build memories that will last for years to come.