Its Lookin' Better

So, we have a few new things to discuss on the Kraus' Biggest Loser homefront. We have officially signed up for a 12.5 mile trail run in Huntsville in May. Now THIS is a plan! We have printed out our training schedule and on monday we are officially starting the training process. It is a three month long training program chocked full of endless miles. The cool part about the race is it is a trail run, which will bring back some fun Adventure Race memories of running through the woods. The Krauses are back in business!!!

Check out a few old pics of Jess, Amy, and me competing in a crazy adventure race
This stuff we were wading through ended up being so deep it was up to our chest and we had to put our backpacks over our head to keep them from getting soaked.

This was the picture of us lost in the middle of thorns everywhere! You should have seen our legs and arms, it looked like we had gotten in a fight with 10 angry cats! We had to eventually be rescued from our little directional mishap.


While this trail run won't be quite so adventurous it will be tons of fun!!! I will keep you posted on how our training is going.

Biggest Loser Update

So....a little update on how we are doing with the Biggest Loser competition. Lets just say, I think Joey and I are last right now if we just look at the facts. What are the facts? Well, my father and mother are working out 6 if not 7 days a week on their elliptical machine. They are really counting fat grams and calories, and my father who drank Pepsi like it was a drug (at least 4 or 5 per day) has not had a single carbonated beverage in 25 days!!!! Jess and Johnny are training for a full marathon in April, so they are just running like 10 and 12 miles regularly. This poses a problem for Joey and I who, although we have great intentions, have yet to really buckle down with a definite plan. We have thrown out possible plans, and have thought about getting really serious, but haven't. We are eating better than we were, not going out really at all and limiting our portions. We have all but cut out sweets, minus the chocolate chip cookie mess up this weekend. We are not doing any regular routine of exercise which is what we really need, so all in all we are not where either of us want to be one month into the competition. We are still motivated and ready to make some changes, so hopefully we can really get things rolling, because by the look of our competition we WAY underestimated them!!!! All is ok though, I love a challenge!!!

Potty Break

So, as promised, I am elaborating on Jackson's bathroom habits. I promise I won't get to graphic because really who wants to go there. I would never have normally spoken of this subject, but it is funny what motherhood does to you. How it changes you. You all of a sudden get real excited about bowel movements and other weird things. And not only that, but you are willingly blogging about them!
Well, I will just start at the very beginning.
To give you just a smidgen of history, Jackson has always been very easy to read when it came to this particular subject. From the time he was born, he made faces and noises telling the world that he needed a little "release". Well, from the time he was little Joey and I have always said things like, "Are you poo pooing?" when he was grunting and turning red. We would laugh and move on. Well, about three weeks ago, instead of grunting while doing his business he said, "poo poo". Again, we lost it and laughed hysterically, wishing we had caught it on film for black mail in the future. Well, a couple of weeks ago my mother came into town and she hadn't seen this new trick yet, so as she was carrying him back from his room he said "poo poo". My mother being the, lets just give it a try type person, said oh well ok you need to go potty, lets go. She put him on the potty and the next thing she knew, he had done his business right there. My mom is everyone's biggest cheerleader, so having her cheering and clapping for him made him LOVE the bathroom. She told us what she had done, so we decided to try it. Sure enough, about half of the time he would say when he was needing to go, so we carried him in and sat him on the toilet. I sit there with him and whats funny is sometimes it takes a good 5 minutes or so, so we sing, or play with the toilet paper until he is ready and then he just goes. Now, he has started saying bye bye and waving when we flush the toilet, its hysterical! He has gone five times in the potty this week, which has just blown us away. If it weren't for my mother, we never would have even attempted this. We would have never thought a 13 month old would be at all interested. Now, I need everyone to know that we don't think he is a potty prodigy. We are not throwing out the diapers yet, and we are definitely not expecting him to be potty trained in the near future. We just want to make it a familiar thing for him, for when he is ready. We hope that when he is more capable to tell us when he has to go, that the potty won't be a scary weird new thing, but it will be old hat. Only time will tell. Our pediatrician thinks we're nuts, and says he thinks he'll be three when he is potty trained, which could be true, but for now, why not try. As my mom taught me through this, you can't underestimate your child and what they are capable of.

13 Months

So, here we are 13 months into this incredible journey with Jackson. Is feels longer than that, but at the same time it feels that it went by so fast. Its weird, the unexplainable things of parenthood. Well, as I said today is his 13 month birthday and in honor I thought I would catch you up on all the latest Jackson news.
Well, lets get to it. He is about average in the height and head department compared to his other peers, and we are on the small side for weight. We're a feather weight, weighing in at 21 1/2 lbs, but what he lacks in size he definately makes up for in speed. He is getting extremely comfortable with the walking thing and is amazing us with his quickness already. I can't keep up! Here are some other fun facts about our little man:
-He loves bringing me books now to read to him, especially the ones with trucks, motorcycles, or animals
-He still loves imitating the animal noises, especially the pig
-He usually can pick out family members from pictures, and can kind of say most of their names. The funniest is Johnny, whom he calls "Nini". It gets a laugh so he keeps saying it.
-We have officailly stopped all formula and have moved on to whole milk, which he has taken to like a champ. No problems yet anyway. If there is one thing I've learned as a mother is don't get cocky because the second you think you've got it down, they change. Which brings me to my next fact:
- He eats a ton, but it is hard to know sometimes what he'll eat because he loves something one day and hates it the next. This is so frustrating! He does however have a few staples that he always eats (I say that with hesitation)
- He loves, blueberry Eggo waffles, cream of wheat, toast, crackers, any baby foods, chicken noodle soup (broth only), and steamed peas
- He has to sleep with his "Bear Rare" which is a little bear in a bunny suit, thanks Beasch and Nan!!!
- He has been sleeping at least 12 hours a night and still on two naps a day
- We are still doing time out with him, and have been for quite sometime and we think it is working!! Yea! Before when I told him not to touch something he would yell at me and touch it, and then get really mad when I removed him from the object. Now, after months of reinforcing ALL the time, when he goes toward the stove, for example, I say No don't touch, and he moves on, zero fussing. Whats funny is Joey and I have really enforced not touching the stove by saying "its HOT". Now, whatever we tell him not to touch he thinks is hot. The tv, mommies phone, the toilet, he says HOT and walks away. Oh well, he is kinda getting it.
- He has started hitting. About three weeks ago, right after his first birthday he realized that when I carried him inside, which he hates because he ALWAYS wants to be outside, he was right at my face level to just smack me. We have been consistently putting him in time out, still only one minute, hoping we nip this in the bud. We'll let you know how it goes.
- The final thing that you guys have to know about is that he has pooped in the potty 4 times!!! This one takes some explanation and so I will save it for my next blog. Stay tuned for all the "dirty" details. He he!

What a great kid!!!!!

The Biggest Loser (Couples)

In honor of New Years and the classic new years resolution, my family has decided to challenge one another in a friendly yet fierce Biggest Loser competition. It was decided that each couple would participate as a team. These are the teams in no particular order (except that the number one team is and will be the number one team)
1. JOEY AND NICOLE- whoo hoo! We Are the Champions, is already playing in my head! And, weighing in at a whopping...........?????..............seriously I might be crazy but I ain't stupid. No weight will be blogged. No one wants to go there.
Anyway, on to the next team,
2. Mom and Dad- now, though they are worthy competitors, they do not stand a chance against the fierceness of Joey and me. Although I hear through the grapevine that my dad has already lost 8 lbs in the first 10 days. Thats ok...its probably just trash talk. Thats what I'm gonna cling to.
3. Jess and Johnny- although they are training for like an 800 mile run or something, don't be fooled, we know how to tempt them. I personally know that Jonathan can't resist slice and bake cookies....even burnt ones. We have a strategy....and it involves a cookie bouquet each week Jess, you know what I'm talkin' about. Be afraid, be very afraid.

So, those are the teams. The competition started on January 1st, and we all had to declare what our winning prize would be. Our prize that must be payed for by the other teams is a couple's spa day. The works! I can already smell the eucalyptus, and hear the soft violin music playing in the background. Now what is so great about this little challenge is that the winner will be announced not only at the "final weigh in" at my parents house on June 1st, but also right here on this blog in front of millions of viewers. Ok, well at least the five faithfuls will see it. Anyway, not the point, the point is, is that we need your help. This is a tool that Joey and I are using to help us beat the competition. All of you are participating in our little challenge too. Well, maybe not in the sweatin' and muscle achy way, but in the accountability way. You see Joey and I both need a little help in the motivation department, and that is where yall come in. We want you to ask us if we have worked out, whether we are eating what we need to be eating. You know, keep us on track. So, we have begun this journey and hopefully with yalls help we will continue on this healthy road. Side note: for any of you out there thinking that I, the horrible personal trainer wife, coersed my poor unsuspecting husband into this mess you are sadly mistaken. This was his idea, and also his desire for this to be blogged about. Don't believe me?.......

BEFORE





This was obviously all his idea. How did we do with the sad frumpy before picture look? The AFTERS better look better than these!

A Kraus Family Christmas Part Three

So, this blog is going to conclude the trilogy of christmas fun for 2008. We finished the christmas craziness at my parents house in dallas. We drove down on christmas day and celebrated the following saturday when Jess and Johnny came in. We had such a great time continuing the christmas celebration. Jackson was once again bombarded with tons of gifts, and we had some great laughs watching him play. Thanks mom and dad and Jess and Johnny for a wonderful time!!! Sorry no video, it seems that I have trouble downloading them half of the time, but here are some great photos that tell the story.
The little elves

My dad's fun shirt that mom got him

Joey's excitement about his Nike 6.0 shoes


Jackson loved them too!


One of Jackson's favorite gifts, his "momo". Thanks Jess and Johnny!



We dressed Jackson in his cute clothes and in between wagon rides we snapped some cute pics.

Pearly White With Some Blue

So, I had to take a momentary break from the christmas fun to tell you all about the exciting news that happened last week. Jackson finally got his first tooth!!! Yea! December 29th he sprouted his first pearly white. We were so excited, so of course I have been following him around with my camera. Wouldn't you know that I have not been able to catch that little tooth on camera. I will keep working on that, but in the mean time just try to imagine the gummy smile with one cute little tooth, bottom right.
Also, to follow up on a blog long ago about what his eye color would be, they are blue. We were told by our doctor that the day they turn one you can look at their eyes and that will be the color. Well, December 16th we checked and yep...still blue.

Precious baby blues, with a classic Jackson crazy face. Would we expect anything less?


I will keep trying to catch that tooth!!!

A Kraus Family Christmas Part Two

Its Christmas day!!! It wasn't as early as we thought it would be, since we got up at 7 and actually had to wait on Jackson to get up. He woke up at 7:30am and pointed straight at the stockings. He hasn't been allowed to touch them, so I think his favorite part of christmas was to dump out all the presents in all three of ours. We had to pull him back to the gifts under the tree quite a few times. We had such a great time!


He loved his little baseball toy that santa brought him.









Here he is on christmas morning playing with his bat and ball.

A Kraus Family Christmas Part One

So we begin this christmas trilogy with our first christmas which took place on Christmas Eve at Joey's parents house. Lets recap a little shall we. There was a BUFFET of food, really amazing; someone who looked alot like Uncle Eddie; and lots of gifts. Lets just get to the pictures.

Jackson was playing the piano for us. And yes, Jackson is in his pajamas. We decided to be festive.

Uncle Beep and Aunt Boo helping Jackson

And speaking of festive, here is Uncle Eddie, aka Joey in his robe, cowboy boots and camo hat. Such class we have.

Here's Jackson's Beasch riding Carson's horse

Carson was so proud of his batman car and needed me to take a picture....of the front AND the side.

Here we all are in our sweet family photo

Joey with Carson's police helmet on and Beep had his WWF weight belt.

Thanks Amanda for this picture. It is rare that my sweet boy is still and sitting with me, so I cherish this picture dearly. We wre reading one of his new books.


Hope you enjoy the video. Jackson got a litlte 4 wheeler for christmas. He got on that thing and took off! I wish I captured that on camera, but I still wanted to show his prized toy. He loves this thing. He calls it his motorcycle or "momo". Thanks so much Beasch and Gran for such a GREAT christmas!