This book is more general, describing brain development, but there is a lot describing nerve/synapse development including myelination.

I give it to most of my new parent friends as a gift.

https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-There-Brain-Develop/dp/05...

Recommending books seems to be not in fashion. I read some during the pregnancy of my wife. They were helpful. The most helpful one that I am using right now is unfortunately in German. It is really good, but with no translation (Largo, Babyjahre). The rest is in English.

1. What to expect When You're Expecting

http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Youre-Expecting/dp/07...

It is the classic on the subject and helped when there were some questions. Nutrition is really important. It becomes especially important after the birth.

2. What's Going on in There?

A book about the brain development of the child. It helped me to understand things better.

http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-There-Brain-Develop/dp/055...

3. Beyond the sling.

This book is about parenting in general. It helps you broaden your mind. I would not recommend all of it. But carrying your child around helps in a lot of ways.

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Sling-Real-Life-Confident-Attac...

Be the parent you want to be. A lot of people are going to talk about what the best way to raise a kid is, but you are going to know your kid better than all of them, so do what is right for your family.

Dote on your wife. Give her a foot rub every night.

The burden of a child kind of weighs heavy at times - "holy crap I could serious fuck this kid's head up!" - but remember that most people grow up to be okay regardless of their parents. As long as you're a good and loving person so will your child be.

If you're like me, jokes about kids are going to become seriously unfunny for a few years. If you watch cop shows and dramas you'll notice a lot of kids dying or being threatened and where you might not have had those heartstrings to be tugged in the past, when they first get installed they are fiercely powerful.

My favorite book about childhood development is http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-There-Brain-Develop/dp/055... "What's Going On In There" which was written by a neurobiologist because she started thinking about what was happening when she was pregnant. I consider it the Hacker's Guide to your Kid's Brain.

My oldest is 4 now, he's about to start junior kindergarten. Seeing him (and my youngest who is 6 months) develop is fascinating and rewarding. Don't give up on your goals and dreams but remember that there's always going to be work waiting for you. Your kids are only kids for a while.