Matthew had an appointment with his cardiologist Dr. Mayman today. He wasn't too happy when he had his EKG but relaxed later on. Matthew's heart pressures are still elevated but they haven't increased since his last visit. Hopefully his pressures will remain the same for another couple weeks until his next surgery.

With clean bills of health in hand, our friends Trish & Avner brought their baby boy Ethan over for a visit today. We had a great time discussing new parent stories.

It's amazing how progress just sneaks up on you. All of the sudden Matthew can sit up on his own. Doesn't he look so proud of himself?

If Terri and I didn't tell you what a stinker he is at bottle time, you'd swear by this picture that he loves to eat. Luckily for us, Matthew doesn't have a choice. What ever he doesn't eat, we put down his feeding tube.

Here is a close-up of Matthew's toothy little smile.

I just got this wide angle lens and couldn't wait to get a circus mirror shot of Matthew. This is how the world looks in the morning before I have my coffee.

Matthew loves to be in his bouncer. Terri says he's jumping for the moon.

Our dear friend Jerry, who is one of Matthew's Respiratory Therapists at Stanford, is quite excited that his buddy Matthew is coming back. He made the cutest video of Matthew driving to California. Click here to view it... Little Matthew Driving

Aunt Gabrielle & Uncle Keith invited us to a late lunch at their house today. It was cold out so we bundled up Matthew in his "Christmas Story" outfit. We can't help but laugh at the jester hat.

As always, Uncle Keith was the first to greet Matthew when we arrived.

Matthew was happy to see his Cousin Daniel.

Matthew had so much fun playing with Mommy and all his toys today. Yes, that is a toy cel phone you see in the next picture. He is Terri's son after all.

Auntie Kim bought this "Jeep" walker for Matthew to play in. He likes to back up and honk the horn.

Notice the intense concentration as if negotiating a turn.

Matthew is so proud of himself when Terri helps him stand up. He sticks his chest out and smiles as if to say, "look at me Daddy!"

Terri snapped this picture of Matthew and I yesterday as we were walking out the door to go help Auntie Kim. Terri says Matthew looks like "Mini-Me".

Matthew came out on the patio with me in his swing while I put together his highchair. I put this hat on him correctly but he managed to move it to look like "The Little Rascals".

This was Matthew's first time in a highchair.

Matthew weighed in at 15 pounds 8 ounces this morning!

After his weigh-in Matthew needed a new outfit. Look how faint his scar is.

A fresh smile for a fresh outfit.

This mischievous look comes from the satisfaction in making a mess all over his bib when Mommy tried to feed him peach baby food today.

This is a big day for Matthew. As Terri got him ready for his doctor's visit our hearts were heavy from the anticipation. Today Matthew will have an echocardiogram at Dr. Mayman's office to check his heart. Matthew's heart valve pressures will determine when his next surgery will be.

I'm so glad he doesn't know he will get two more shots at the doctor's office today. On the other hand, Matthew has such a great disposition that he would probably take it in stride anyway.

Dr. Mayman measured Matthew's internal heart pressures today and found them to be rising. This is the triggering point for Matthew's next surgery. We are anticipating a return to Stanford University at the end of February or beginning of March. Matthew will have to undergo open heart surgery again which means his chest will be cut open right along the same scar. The good news is that we should only be in the hospital for 1-2 weeks instead of 5 months this time. Matthew is much bigger and stronger now and our prayers are for the continued strengthening of his lungs before surgery.

Matthew is at the age where he likes to garb things, including his nasal canula!

Today was bath day for Matthew.

Matthew loves to be bundled up in his warm bath towel after his bath.

Matthew gets "happy feet" when he gets excited. It is so cute to watch.

Here is Matthew, all clean, in his new outfit from Auntie Kim.