Chris Evans just stepped into the most rewarding role of his life — dad! The Captain America star and his wife, Portuguese actress Alba Baptista, welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Alma Grace Baptista Evans.

Little Alma Grace made her debut in Massachusetts on Friday, October 24, at 1:27 p.m. Proud dad Evans, 44, and mom Baptista, 28, are soaking up every moment of their new chapter together. “They’re enjoying their privacy and these special first few days as a family with their baby,” a source told PEOPLE.

The news comes just a year after the couple tied the knot during a private ceremony on Cape Cod in September 2023. Though Evans and Baptista tend to keep their relationship out of the spotlight, the actor hasn’t been shy about his dreams of starting a family.

“That’s absolutely something I want: wife, kids, building a family,” Evans told PEOPLE around the time of their wedding. “When you read about most of the best artists, whether it’s actors, painters, writers, most of them [admit] it wasn’t the work they made [that they are most proud of], it was about the relationships; the families they created, the love they found, the love they shared.”

It seems those dreams have now come true.

A source told PEOPLE that Evans “got serious very quickly” after meeting Alba in Europe, describing it as “love at first sight.” The insider added, “He kept saying he knew she was the one. He can’t wait to have a family. He was just waiting for the right girl.”

Fans suspected baby news might be on the horizon months ago when Alba’s father, Luiz Baptista, left a sweet comment on social media that read, “Many thanks dear Chris. Your turn is coming!” Turns out, he was right — and now the proud grandparents have a granddaughter to love.

Evans also hinted at his excitement about fatherhood while promoting his movie Red One in late 2024. When asked if he thought he’d be a “superhero” dad like his co-star Dwayne Johnson’s character, he smiled and said, “Yeah, I hope so. Yeah, absolutely. The title of dad is an exciting one.”

After years of saving the world on screen, Evans now has a brand-new mission: raising his daughter with the same dedication and love he’s shown throughout his career. And while he may be known for his superhero roles, it’s clear his favorite title yet is “Dad.”