My Favorite Colors

There is just something about the combination of orange and blue that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  Up until last night, I wasn’t sure why. 

Last night my parents and I went home from the hospital.  It was cool seeing my house and my room for the very first time.  I might talk more about that sometime later but the highlight of the night was soon after we got home.  My parents found some of my sweet orange and blue clothes (my mom was wearing some too…just one more reason she ROCKS!) and made our way downstairs.  They push a few buttons and all the sudden the room was filled with wonderful orange and blue.  As you can see I was playing it cool but I was ecstatic on the inside.

Eventually I could not contain myself any longer.  As I was surrounded by all of the orange and blue and as I heard the cheers around me an overwhelming passion welled up inside me.  I couldn’t resist.  I had to shout out: ILL…!

Strong work my Illini brothers.  1-0 on my watch.  Keep it up.  I expect an undefeated lifetime from here on out.

My First On-Screen Appearance

I made my acting debut today in a little short film my dad made.  It wasn’t a speaking role but still, I think I did a pretty good job.  Lookout Oscars, here I come!

Checkout the video at on my Dad’s blog

Check Me Out

Sorry I haven’t been able to get more pics up sooner but they’ve kept me rather busy over the last 24 hours.  They were NOT kind to some rather delicate areas but I won’t get into that right now.  I’m still a little bitter.

Here a few fun pictures of me and my parents.  I don’t personally have Facebook (I don’t have many faces to connect with as I’m barely one day old) but I hear both my dad and my Aunt Heather have put up lots of pictures of me so maybe you can find more there. 

As far as I can tell, it sounds like I’ll be going home tomorrow.  Hopefully I will.  I can’t wait to get into my room.  Plus, the sooner I get home the sooner I can start meeting new people and I can’t wait to meet you all sometime soon!

And my name is…

My parents told me that I had to keep my name a secret until I was born.  I tried to get the word out as much as I could a couple of weeks ago in my Say My Name post but all I could really do was give a few clues. 

Since then I’ve heard all kinds of guesses.  Several people thought Levi or Isaac.  Some called me Josh and Luke.  Another friend put in a few guesses based on what he thought he saw in the nail positions and he said names like Jake or Jack.  There were many other good guesses too.  But only now, having emerged from my 9+ month spa treatment, can I reveal my true name. 

Any my name is…

That’s right Josh, you were right on track.  My name is Jack Titus Sandel.  That’s it.  Say it loud and say it proud, people!

Mom and Dad have told me a little about why they named me Jack Titus.  I guess Jack is of Hebrew origin and it means “God has been gracious.”  Titus is of Greek and Latin origin and it means “Hero” or “Defender.”  Titus is also one of my mom’s favorite books of the Bible.  It begins, “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”  It is written to a young man who was working as a missionary under the direction of Paul and it talks a lot about learning to do what is good and how to be a strong leader in the church.  It also teaches about how to live a life of purity, focus and how to make God proud.  I guess those are things my parents think are important for me.

One more time, say it loud, “Jack Titus”!  Represent.

Hello World!

An Eventful Day

Wow mamma!  What is going on?  It has been crazy today.  I’m still not sure what’s going on but it is definitely something. 

My dad has posted a few things that might explain more but all I know is something is happening!  Hopefully I’ll get to see mom and dad soon.

Overdue?

There sure has been a lot of commotion around here lately.  I guess that is only fitting since today is my 40 week not-yet-born-day!  That’s right, I’m officially due today.  Whatever that means.  I’m still feeling pretty good up in here (though space is at a real premium at this point).  My parents seem to be ready for me to come though.  Mom has been walking up a storm trying to get me to move out.  I think she’s up to like 11 or 12 miles in the last week.  She’s also doing some funny exercises trying to get me to come.  I don’t know, maybe I should just come already.

I guess you’ll find out sometime.  See you soon.

Planning My Escape

I really shouldn’t be telling you this but I figure no one will find out.  It’s only the internet. 

The time is almost here.  I’m busting out soon.  I’ve been planning it for some time now, almost nine months to be exact.  I’ve been gradually chipping away at my walls.  It is pretty extreme I know but I’ve got to bust out.  When I finally do I’m going have to crawl “to freedom through five hundred yards of ‘gross’ smelling foulness I cant’ even imagine, or maybe I just don’t want to.  Five hundred yards… that’s the length of five football fields, just shy of half a mile.” 

Ok, so that may be a slight exaggeration but I know it’s going to be tough.  I’m ready though. 

I can almost feel it now.  That glorious feeling of freedom will soon by mine.  And I can’t wait!

Say My Name

My parents recently finished my room.  At least I think they did.  It is kind of hard to tell from these tight quarters.  I’m super excited to see it more fully but from the sound of things, they’ve got it totally customized.  They even had my name on the wall but they took it down to keep it a secret.

At this point I’m pretty sure I know what my name is going to be but I’m supposed to keep it a secret.  I can however give out a couple of hints.  From the missing spaces on the wall I can confirm that there are either four or five letters in my name.  Also, if you can pick up any additional hints from the placement of the nails, here is the open area on the wall.

So what do you think?  This is your last chance to lock in your best guess at my name.  Closest guess gets to be my godparent!  (Well maybe not.  But you will be super cool in my book and that’s got to count for something.)

Just leave your guess in the comments.

Coming to Visit Soon!

I stopped by to see my doctor this morning.  We’ve been seeing a lot of each other lately.  Things went pretty well I suppose.  I’ve seen her every week for the last few weeks and it’s pretty much business as usual at this point.

I’ve been planning for a trip down south to see you all in a few weeks.  I was going to go on the 20th but now I’m thinking about going early.  Both my parents say it’s ok so who knows.  Maybe I’ll come anytime.

I hope to see you soon!