Steve and Emily are in which stage of the family life cycle after the birth of their children?

The stage of the family life cycle that Steve and Emily are in after the birth of their children is accurately identified as expanding. This phase typically occurs when a couple has children and is focused on raising and nurturing their new family members. During this time, the family unit grows as they welcome new life into their household, which brings about changes in relationships, dynamics, responsibilities, and roles.

In the expanding stage, parents often experience a shift in focus from the couple's relationship to the needs and care of their children. This involves setting up a home environment conducive to child-rearing, managing financial responsibilities associated with raising children, and developing parenting skills.

Other stages, such as independence, coupling, and launching, pertain to different family life experiences. Independence relates to young adults establishing their separate identities, coupling refers to the early relationship stages when partners commit to each other, and launching involves the phase when children are transitioning out of the home as they become adults. These stages do not encapsulate the specific dynamics and responsibilities that arise from having young children, making expanding the most appropriate choice in this context.