Dan and Kate, I hope you and little zucca enjoy these books. Our kids have loved them. As for advice, I could ramble for pages, but I'll try to keep it short.
Labor and Delivery: read tons, decide your wishes, make your voice heard, keep an open mind to whatever happens.
Newborn Stage: sleep when the baby sleeps, don't try to focus on anything other than you and the baby for a while. Have confidence in your instincts while staying open to others' experience and suggestions. Read The Happiest Baby on the Block for great advice on calming your baby in the 0-3 month stage (swaddle, shush, sideways hold, sucking, swinging all at the same time. Works like a charm...eventually!) Soak up the innocence, the newborn baby smell, the delicate connection with heaven that you might feel, the whispery-smoothness of newborn baby skin, the overwhelming feeling of love and being absolutely essential to this baby. It is truly life-changing and as everyone says, they do grow so fast.
Parenthood is a marathon, grueling at times, especially in the beginning, and yet the endorphins of joy and love kick in often enough to keep you going. The trick is to enjoy the journey, of course.
much love! -Rachel