Avery Mae Steenblik

Avery Mae Steenblik entered the world on December 11th 2013 at 4:40pm, weighing 7lbs 14oz and 19 inches in height. Here is her birth story.

I had been having braxton hicks on and off for a couple of weeks and after a couple of times thinking I was in labor and them disappearing when I lay down I was pretty certain this birth would be a repeat of Lucas and end in an induction. I was a firm believer that my babies liked to bake for as long as possible. I was due to be induced on December 13th, but about 2 weeks before that date my Dr. told me they were over booked that day and I had been moved forward to the 12th. This meant Brett had to shuffle his work schedule around a little, but it was no big deal. As the 12th approached we really hoped she would hold off on being born until the 12th, mainly because we had everything planned out nicely with babysitting for Lucas and Brett being off.

The morning of Wednesday the 11th I woke up due to a contraction just as Brett was leaving for his last day of work. I told him about it, not thinking anything of it and he just said "well hold off until 5pm" and laughed.  I tried to go back to sleep, but the contractions kept coming. After about 3 hours my friend Sierra persuaded me to call my Doctor. She was busy and they didn't call me back for over an hour. At this point I had been having regular contractions for over 4 hours and they decided I should get checked out because we live so far from the hospital. I called my visiting teacher and awesome friend Katie and asked her if she could take Lucas and Sierra drove me to the hospital. I called Brett and he left to meet us there. By the time we arrived the contractions were pretty strong and it took them forever to get me checked in because their computer was being slow.

By the time they checked on me I was dialated to a 4 and they moved me straight up to a delivery room. Now I am not shy about the fact that I am all for epidurals. My pain tolerance is low so my biggest fear is not being able to get one. UMC is a teaching school which is no big deal to me, but the anesthesiologist could NOT get the epidural in, it took him about 45 minutes and my contractions were getting very strong. His teacher was called in to help him, but did not take over which really made me mad. By the time it was finally in I was dialated to a 9 and they had my Dr. come in for delivery. 3 sets of 3 pushes later Avery Mae entered the world.

Her birth weight and height were exactly the same as mine.

She is named after Brett's Grandma and Great-Grandma. Avery was his Great-grandma's maiden name, and her daughter's (Brett's Grandma's) middle name is Mae.

She was a newborn clone of her big brother other than she had more and much darker hair than him.

Also like Lucas she was very calm when she was born, just taking it all in. 

A perfect snap of my babies together.

Avery's delivery was much faster and easier than Lucas' which was a huge blessing. I only had to stay one night in the hospital which I was grateful for. We are so in love with our Christmas Angel!

Stay tuned for some professional hospital and newborn pictures taken by my amazing friend Christine at Sweet Afton Studios

Great-Grandparents

We had a yummy Sunday dinner at Shellie and Kenny's. Grandma and Grandpa joined us and Lucas managed to sit still long enough to take a picture with them. Lucas is around their 23rd Great-grandchild and there will soon be 28. I just adore this picture!

Thanksgiving

This time last year we spent Thanksgiving with Megan and Joe, Megan and I were uncomfortably pregnant. This year was a different story and we had so much fun in Idaho Falls...the babies loved playing together. Here is our Thanksgiving week in a snap shot.


The day before Thanksgiving Megan and the girls came over whilst everyone else was at work. We took an adventurous trip to WalMart and then made some Christmas Ornaments  with the kids (I will blog about those later...they turned out SUPER cute!)



Thanksgiving Day we went to Joe's sister's house and had a DELICIOUS feast. Lucas slept through dinner and woke up just in time for pie, fed to him by Papa. Apparently Lucas LOVES pumpkin pie!



We saved Lucas a bag of food to eat later. Here he is enjoying his first Thanksgiving meal. He may not look too happy, that's because I kept calling his name for a picture...he wanted to be left alone to eat!



 Us on Thanksgiving Day! Poor Lucas isn't smiling as much these days due to his sore gums :(



 These two are best buds, they were inseparable the whole week! Wherever Ellie goes Lucas is right behind her wishing he could walk too! When they saw each other the first day they crawled to each other, hugged and laughed! It was soo cute!
Many a bath was needed during the week, that was always an adventure left for Grammy!

Thanksgiving night Megan, Kathy and I ventured out for some Black Friday shopping. We went to WalMart, felt violated and left. Next we snuck into the middle of the line at Kohls tried on boots, couldn't find the end of the checkout line and left. Then we went to Old Navy, Megan tried on some jeans and realized saving $15 wasn't worth an hour wait in line. We got home at 2am...bought nothing, but had way too much fun! We decided that for Black Friday you gotta be all in or all out. Next year I think we will be all out. It was fun though!!

We had a fun week and were so grateful for the break from school and work. We can't wait until Christmas!

I am so grateful for my family, the Gospel and the many blessings we are given daily!

Little Family

I love my little family!! I am so grateful for my boys. They bring joy to my life everyday. Watching them play together is my favorite thing!! I am so excited for our first Holiday season as a family of 3!

A Week In The Life Of...

...The Steenblik Family

Monday

Brett leaves for school before Lucas and I wake up

Brett gets home around 4:10pm

At 4:45pm I leave for work

Somewhere between 12 & 12:30am I get home from work

We go to bed as soon as I get home

Tuesday

Brett gets up early and goes to work

I go to class at 12:05pm

At 1:20pm get out of class and go home

Brett either goes back to work or stays at home

4:45pm I go to work

Somewhere between 12 & 12:30am I get home from work

We go to bed as soon as I get home

Wednesday 

Repeat Monday

Thursday

Brett leaves for work before Lucas and I get up

Brett goes to class at 10am

12:05pm I go to class

3pm Brett goes to a 3 hour lab

Sometimes I have work as soon as Brett gets home

Brett does homework all night

Friday

Repeat Brett's Monday & Weds school schedule

Brett gets home at 4:10pm and we finally get to spend time as a family for the first time in the week

We may see friends, we may just hang out at home

We usually get pizza or go out to dinner

Saturday 

We sleep in

Clean

We run errands

Brett does homework

We may see friends at night

Sunday

Church from 10:30am-1:30pm

We skype our parents in the afternoon

Sometimes we go to the Greene's for dinner

So if you never see us, you now know why. Life is insane. This weekly schedule doesn't include the days that I am at work until 1:30am or the weeks where Brett has multiple tests and I have papers.

Our schedule isn't ideal right now, but we do what we have to do to make it work. I'm glad that we don't have to put Lucas in day care and that I have a job that helps us get through month to month. 

I hate the days that I only see Brett for 30 minutes so I look forward to every weekend and the passing moments we get together.

I love my family and am so grateful for all the hard work my amazing husband does for our family!

Rising Above

9/11, a day that we will NEVER forget. We will always remember where we were when we heard/saw that fateful news.

I, 14 years old was in England with one of my best friends Kirsty. We were inseparable and would walk to her house for lunch everyday, That day we were watching MTV as a news flash came across the screen. We changed the channel and sat there astonished until it was time to go back to school.

It wasn't our country and at that point I had no idea I would be living here, but we felt their pain and our hearts went out to all effected by the days events.

Today I make jokes about how I'm not American, that I'm British through and through, but really a piece of my heart belongs to this country. How could it not? I have lived here for 6 years, am married to an American and my son is an American citizen. I enjoy many of the freedoms of this country.

Regardless of nationality, their is some innate human connection that pulls us to those that suffer. That day didn't just change America, it changed the world. And so it should.

9/11 ten years later my brother and sister in-law and my precious nieces were driving back to Idaho from a weekend with us in Utah. They hit a deer and it was a bad hit, it totaled their car. Their wind shield caved into their faces, yet not one of them had a scratch on them.

Some asked why God would let such a thing happen 10 years ago. One of the greatest gifts God has given us is agency. But with that agency men are able to choose to do evil. 10 years ago men did an act that defines evil and killed many people. But today in a moment that could have ended the lives of our precious family, God intervened and kept them safe. God is great and he loves ALL of children. He is a God of miracles and he is mindful of us always. As he was with Megan, Joe, Lula and Ellie today, I know without a doubt he was with every single person effected by that awful day.

As we remember those who were lost it is up to us to be the change in the world that we want to see.


Do we remember how we felt 10 years ago today? Do we remember the changes we promised to make and the love we swore to share? Can we rise above? May God be with those who lost loved ones and may we cherish those who were spared.

Loving Lucas

Loving Lucas is the easiest thing in the entire world, so easy that I almost take for granted that he will be there to bring joy to my life everyday.

We rejoice in his every new accomplishment, laugh at the way he sleeps, "Come what may and love it" when he does a blowout in his car seat. His smile melts my heart and his snuggly hugs make my day. My sweet boy is my world and I am so grateful to have him in my life.

I feel honored that I was entrusted by the Lord to raise this precious boy throughout this life and to know that we will be a forever family.

Everyday is about loving Lucas and I will never let a day go by where I don't tell him I love him.

How blessed I am to have such a wonderful loving husband and an adorable little boy.

11 Days Till' Home!!

In 11 days we drive to Vegas and hop on a direct flight to England for 3 weeks! It has been 3 1/2 years since I have been home and we are super excited! I can't wait for Brett to see where I grew up and meet all my family and friends!

I am so excited to...

See these people, my parents, best friends and nieces and nephews.

(Also my Grandparents and Aunt, Uncle, Brothers and Sister, my Cousin and all my other nieces and nephews).

Go to these places, London, the coastal line of Poole/Dorset, Corfe Castle and to see the rolling hills and fresh green of England!

And to eat and drink all these YUMMY treats! Cadbury's, Walkers crisps, Fanta Twist and Shloer!

(As well as Mummy's yummy Roast Dinners and some Fish & Chips!)

We can't wait and just pray Lucas survives the looong journey and jet lag! Thank goodness for Nanna and Grandad and Aunts and Uncles that will be more than willing to look after the Munchkin when we sleep! :)

Grateful: Families Are Forever

This week one of my best friends, my in-laws and extended family members all said goodbye to someone they loved very much. Family members and friends were taken back to their Heavenly parents and I am so grateful to know that Families Are Forever. I also believe, that although not bound by Priesthood powers, that friendship can last forever too, simply due to our love for that person.

I am so incredibly grateful to know that Brett & I are bound together for Eternity and that our little boy will be born into that covenant and divine blessing. My heart is full to know that if something ever happen to either of us, (heaven forbid), that the words we spoke in the Temple the day we were married were not only for this life, but for the life to come.

I know the 3 people that passed on (all people I never met) will be missed very much, but I know those who loved them will cherish their memory, remember things they learned from them and find comfort in the knowledge they have of Eternal life and Forever Families.

My love and prayers go out to you all.

Our Christmas Adventures!

This Christmas was quite different to last years...no weddings, no international flying and sadly not everyone was together, but we did get the best present of all as a whole family...little Eloise Joy!

We spent this Christmas with Kathy and Randy up at Tiffany and Rob's house, but of on the way we stayed the night in Rexburg, got to meet the gorgeous Ellie and spent time with our Lula girl!



After an 8 hour trip from Rexburg, we arrived to some yummy enchiladas made by Tiff and watched Despicable Me with with kids.

The next day consisted of some last minute shopping, the Pizza Factory and at night we went to the resort and went on the Santa Cruise! We hopped on a boat and sailed through lots of Christmas lights! Eventually we arrived at the North Pole, where Santa, his wife and some Elves were there to talk to us! Then Santa read off the names of all the good children. When he got to Lance he yelled out in excitement then Santa said "You seem surprised!" it was rather funny!

Even Brett and I were on the list! We must have been good this year!



Syd was trying to make her evil face, but kept laughing before I could get a good picture! She's so funny!


Christmas Eve we had a wonderful Christmas meal prepared by Randy (sadly I didn't get a picture!). Brett and Rob spent the day snowboarding so we went with the kids to see Narnia.
The kids also frosted sugar cookies for Santa.


Their cute cookies and letters for Santa and don't forget the carrots for the Reindeer!!

Before bed we had the traditional family nativity. This year we were lacking in children, so they all had multiple roles. Last year with so many kids we had wandering sheep and a real live baby...it was a lot more contained this year!


Lance was Joseph and the Wisemen and the Shepherds! Syd was the Angel and the sheep as you can see below!



As part of the Christmas program, Syd sang us a song...and Abby read us a poem.


The kids then opened a present each and got new PJs! Here they are all ready for bed!



Christmas morning we were all happy to see Santa had some! We even had some crackers to pull! We got some pretty neat prizes and some silly jokes that we shared with Jacob and Jonah over Skype!


Everyone had to wear their crowns! We all got lots of lovely presents and had yummy homemade Cinnamon rolls made by Randy for breakfast!

Later in the afternoon we went out to see if we could spot some of the Eagles flying around, but we didn't have much luck! It was a pretty view though!



Whilst Eagle spotting Kathy realized she had two different shoes on! She was teased for quite some time after that!


Then we headed to the Resort for our yummy Christmas dinner! They had Prime Rib to die for!! At one point Kathy was in front of me for Prime Rib they gave her a tiny little piece, they then looked at me and my huge belly and gave me a BIG piece! Even Randy was surprised at how much I ate!!

The dessert table was like being in Heaven! I only got pictures of 2 sides of the table! I think between us we tried everything they had!


Great view from our table!


Smiley Kathy and Abby, not so sure what Randy and Syd were thinking!

Stuffed but oh so worth it!!

Monday we went out to the sales...Brett kept Syd entertained!

We were blessed to have a lot of fun this Christmas, we missed those who weren't with us but they were in our thoughts as we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Steenblik Baby Boom!

The Baby Boom of the Steenblik family began this morning with the birth our new gorgeous niece Eloise Joy Whitehead! We love her already and can't wait to see her next week!!

Our lil' Munchkin is next in line with Tiff and Rob's little girl due about 6 weeks after him!

Babies everywhere and we love it!!

P.s. I'm done with finals!!

19 Going On 20!

Meet our nieces and nephews!! We have 19 and 1 on the way! Can you guess which side of the family they each come from? :)

We Love You Guys!

Reece

Josie

Jonah

Jacob

Ethan

Esther

Zack

Sydney

Neve

Lula

Leah

Layla

Lance

Katie

Emma

Elissa

Dieter

Callum

Abby