With so many amazing resources available to new mom and dads, the following are just some books and web resources that other parents I know have found useful in answering questions, encouraging and providing ideas to help you and your baby thrive.
xThe Baby Book: Everything you need to know about your baby from birth to age two ~ Great for first time parents and really hits it home with attachment parenting ideas that get a lot of mainstream flack. [from Melanie]

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Momma Zen: Walking the crooked path of motherhood ~ The author is a Buddhist priest who had her first (and only) child later in life. She beautifully writes about the life change that happened when she brought home baby. This is a soothing, encouraging read.

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Shepherding a Child's Heart ~ A Biblical approach to childhood for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life.

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Baby Laughs: The naked truth about the first year of mommyhood and Belly Laughs: The naked truth about pregnancy and childbirth ~ Jenny McCarthy's sometime crude but honest and hilarious experiences through pregnancy and new motherhood.

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Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child ~ Dr. Weissbluth's approach to helping your child get a good night's sleep. Recommended by pediatricians, with the suggestion that you read and 'sleep' books before the baby is born, as it's much harder to tackle once you're already sleep-deprived! [from Melanie]

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Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood ~ The book looks cheesy, but it's a quick, practical read. It gives simple, easy-to-use advice and helps you be empathetic, especially in situations where you are bound to lose your temper. [from Brooks]

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Strong Fathers, Strong Daughter: 10 secrets every father should know ~ Girls and boys are very different, and sometimes dads aren't quite sure what to do with their little princesses. This is a great read for any dad of a little girl.

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Grace-Based Parenting ~ One of my favorite parenting books, that discusses the importance of raising our kids with the same love and patience God shows us.
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The Continuum Concept and Baby Wise ~ When it comes to getting your baby to sleep, there are tons of resources available in books and on the web. I received several recommendations for Baby Wise (a structured approach to getting baby to sleep through the night). However, I also had a few mom's express concern to me over the popularity and risks of Baby Wise, which are elaborated on HERE. I personally found The Continuum Concept to be an interesting approach that speaks to parenting methods of natives in South America who 'wear' their babies and wake/sleep together to keep their needs met. Every baby is different, Carolyn slept through the night at 6-weeks (thanks mainly to a regular night-time schedule, we did not actually use Baby Wise), Julia didn't sleep through the night until at least 3-years old and slept in our bed since birth. Both are healthy and happy now, so are we!

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And some Web Resources:
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One day in November of 2004 a new tiny person came into my life. In those early days I did much crying and wondering what I had gotten myself into. Not all moms cry, or feel overwhelmed (so they say), but for those new moms and dads who might feel a bit stressed with the responsibility of the tiny human staring back at them in those first days and weeks of parenthood, here are a few tips, tricks and trinkets to smooth the way.

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Thank you all the advice from these great moms
{1. Kristy, 2. Melanie 3. Rebecca, 4. Aunt Eileen, 5. Becky and 6. Brooks}

"The best advice I ever had was to rely on your family."

"The best advice I ever received was 'don't listen to advice!'"

"Motherhood is a rollercoaster. Some days are great, and some are absolutely horrible. It happens to all of us. Just know that the bad days (and stages) don't last forever."

"Don't buy a cheap baby carrier, you'll regret it." [see more on this under trinkets]

"Soothies for new mom!" [see more on this under trinkets]

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"Be proactive about seeking breast feeding support (in the hospital ask for a Lactation Consultant, seek out support groups once you're home, etc.) Support group makes it sounds like AA, but really it is just a small group of moms that all have babies about the same age and just need some emotional support if nothing else."

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"Do what works for you and your family. Advice from others is nice, but it can be stressful, too. If what you are doing works and your kids are healthy and safe - keep with it. Who cares if someone else thinks you're crazy. *wink*"

"Find something that helps you get through the bad days. Something that you can always turn to, to sort of start your day over. For me, on the worst days, I pack the kids in the car and drive to a Starbucks drive-thru. I get myself something decadent and get the kids each a hot chocolate. By the time I drive home one or both of them is asleep and I feel recharged."
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"Remeber your child is an individual, a real true human-being with his/her own feelings, thoughts and emotions. His or her feelings/thoughts will often differ from yours and that is ok. Be respectful of his/her feelings. I say the last 3 sentences as a sort of matra to get through the tantrums that come with growing independence."

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"Find other moms who are in the same life stage as you, who you can be honest with, and enjoy the journey together!"

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my mom and aunt Paula

And from my Grandma:

"1. Try to keep on a schedule for your babies and pre-schoolers. In other words I always gave baths at the same time every day. They took naps at a regular time and were fed at the same time each day. I think when babies and children have routines they feel safe.
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2. Feed your children decent meals every day - not fast foods. Even when mine were todlers I would sit down with them to eat so that it can be a teaching time. Children should learn to sit at the table until everyone is finished before they can get down and go play. If you start this young it will never be a problem to you as they grow.
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3. Take this meal time as an opportunity to visit with them and I mean with them and not someone on your cell phone. I feel bad when I see young mothers with their children at the stores and the mother is visiting with someone on the phone instead of with their child. It surely must make the child feel insignificant. You know that when you are visiting with another adult and they take a cell phone call it doesn't make you feel very good so I am sure this is the way your child feels.
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4. Be consistent on meals and bedtime. Don't go shopping at mealtime or bedtime. When I see parents out at those times and I hear their children fussing I wonder why the parents never learned the hungry or tired cry of their child. Maybe they did and are just choosiing to ignore it.
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5. Children need to have down time. Don't schedule all their time. They don't need to be in more than one extra thing during the school year especially.
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6. Every family needs to have just family time to unwind after dinner and before the children go to bed.
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7. Be consistent in your discipline and make the punishment fit the crime - so to speak. Don't drag out punishment. If you ever say that your child should not do something - just say it once. My father gave me this advice when I started having my family. Boy was he right. I might add that I never once with my children ever used the grounded or time out system. I personally never cared for it."