MELKO

2009-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

It has been forever since I have written. I will try better from now on!

i loved this...

2009-01-20T16:57:00.001-08:00

'Praise Song for the Day'

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

ALEXANDER: A farmer consider the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”

We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

Jack painting

2009-01-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

new things

2009-01-04T21:32:00.001-08:00

sammy just started making a new noise. And he is really laughing. Especially with John. He likes when he says "Boo!" to him.

Jack is dancing and likes to sing "Wild Thing."

2009!

2009-01-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

So I woke up today with a little hangover and a little boy telling me to wake up. I thought back on past new years and I always had a better year when I had a headache on new years day. I am planning on doing things to take care of myself a little better.

I am going to...

-take a yoga class once a week
-take care of my bones
-recycle more and no more styrofoam
-and get a website going for photography and illustration

These are the things I love, I will make some money when I am doing the right thing.

new things

2008-12-29T20:00:00.001-08:00

Sammy tried a little bite of food today for the first time. I need to write down what he has been up to the last month as well! Where does the time go? He is super smiley and it is always a pleasure to be around him. He is laughing more. Especially with peek-a-boo and when you kiss his belly.

Jack is definitely two. Saying no to me so often and not listening. He seems to only want to eat lollypops at the moment.

We had a great Christmas. It was fun to see how much he loved opening presents. HIs favorite qoute was, "I am so excited!" and "Oh my gosh!"

sammy's new hat

2008-12-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

sammy about to roll over

2008-12-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Sammy is just about to roll! He is so sweet, one of the happiest little guys I have ever met. I love in the morning when I wake him up he has the best smile for me.

car accident

2008-12-05T23:07:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my luck! I was in a car accident yesterday that totaled my car. The other driver went through a red light going about 40. Luckily no one was hurt. I am just really shaken up about it. I need a new year to come soon. Or some better luck.

On the brighter side Sammy is making a ton of noise. Especially when music is on or when you talk to him. It is really cute. He is really cute. And so is little Jack.

thank you

2008-12-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for my friends and family. Thanks for being so good to me when I was in my chair for two months!

3 months!

2008-12-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry this is so late but Sammy is officially 3 months old. He has started to think about turning over. Laughing occasionally and smiling all the time. He looks around when he hears a familiar voice and gets really excited when he sees John or I. He loves laying and looking up at things that he can grab. He has been fighting a little cold, but is getting over it quickly. He definitely is a baldy like his mom. Sorry Sammy!

I love that little boy so much.

Jack today while looking at a globe..."That is my earth." I like that he notices those things.

first laugh

2008-11-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

I think Sammy had his first laugh today with dad. It was something I have been waiting for and I am so glad I could hear it!

happy birthday lauren!

2008-11-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

We love and miss you so much! Wish we could be with you to celebrate!

2008-11-19T18:02:00.000-08:00

the zoo

2008-11-19T17:59:00.002-08:00

2008-11-19T17:59:00.001-08:00

this is from one to two months...

2008-11-19T17:58:00.000-08:00

I love the lighting in this photo.

Sammy at 2 months...

2008-11-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

Sammy made his first real word sounding thing 2 days ago. It was a baaaa sound and it was very cute. He really loves to your mouth and imitate your sounds.

something I love to look at...

2008-11-19T16:50:00.000-08:00

http://penelopeillustration.com/blog/

halloween

2008-11-10T20:56:00.000-08:00

update on Sam and Jack

2008-11-08T22:01:00.000-08:00

So Sammy had his first 6 hour stretch about 3 days ago at night. Then the next night he woke up a couple times. It is nice that he is trying regardless to be a great sleeper. He is super aware of everything and smiles all the time. He is cooing and making so many noises while I talk to him. Jack loves his brother and thinks it is really funny to pat on his belly to make him smile. It almost seems like he is going to giggle soon.

Jack loves the movie "Cars" and watches it all the time. He has his "Mater" with him at all times. He loves to line up all his automobiles in a row or line around the house. He carries about 3 or 4 cars with him wherever he goes. He still reapeats the last thing you say sometimes. My little parrot.

This was cute from awhile ago...

http://www.onestepahead.com/assets/videos/froggy%20frenzy.swf

happy 70th birthday dad!

2008-11-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

sammy at 2 months...

2008-11-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

This is so late but I wanted to get something written before he was 3 months!
Sam is cooing and trying to talk to me in his own little way. He was 11 pounds 10 ounces at his 2 month check up.
23.5 inches in height. He was 50 percentile, which makes me feel really good. Jack was always so small and it made me so nervous he was never eating enough. Sam also likes tummy time and his pacifier. He has been sleeping really well at night, and during the day. I have been really blessed with a good little soul. He seems like he is going to be a really nice person. Something in his smile tells me that. Jack love him so much and has been very protective of him. When other people hold him he tells them that he is mommy's Sammy. It is very neat having two little boys.

happy birthday Lisa

2008-10-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

I was going through photos for my dads birthday and came across this one. I love that we all have been such good friends for so long. You mean so much to me. Happy birthday!!!

2008-10-23T14:00:00.003-07:00

grandma

2008-10-23T14:00:00.001-07:00

2008-10-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

hands

2008-10-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

me and sammy

2008-10-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

to jeff...

2008-10-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

I love you, everything is going to be alright.

meeting sam

2008-10-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

My grandma, Janet and Laurel with my little boy.

for grandma

2008-10-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

We took Jack to the pumpkin farm. This was his favorite part of the day.

sammy sleeping

2008-10-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

6 weeks old

2008-10-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

great website from Jeff...

2008-10-10T13:47:00.001-07:00

http://www.hulu.com

go obama!

2008-10-08T21:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/

sammy at 1 month

2008-10-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

artist I love...

2008-10-08T07:00:00.001-07:00

My sister and I both purchased prints from her in Brooklyn. I think her work is so beautiful.

http://swallowfield.typepad.com/

from christine...

2008-10-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

"I walked away from this knowing that life turns on a dime. I realized that life is really dependent on moments, and you don't know when those moments are going to take place when you wake up. And sometimes when you go to sleep at night, you don't realize those moments have taken place."

Stephen G. Bloom
Writer, The Oxford Project
http://www.oxfordproject.com

my x-rays

2008-10-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple pictures of my leg from 7/24/8 and from 10/6/8. I went to the doctor today and was told I won't have to go back again unless I have a problem. This makes me so happy, I can't believe it has almost been 3 months. Time has flown by...

sammy smiled!

2008-10-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

First real smile from sam today!!!! just happened! It made me get a little emotional.

happy birthday kai!

2008-09-29T05:26:00.001-07:00

Happy first birthday Kai!!!! We love you so much and hope we can celebrate soon!

(amazing photo by Amy Swangler)

crystal lake

2008-09-28T20:49:00.001-07:00

My first trip in 2 months to Crystal Lake. I WILL post more of Sam tomorrow. I want to do his first 5 weeks on earth. I have a ton of photos of him as well in case it may seem like I am just taking ones of Jack.

for laurel

2008-09-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

I have been looking through photos from the summer. Slowly but surely I will get more things on here.

so cute

2008-09-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

we made are first visit in 2 months at Debbie's house. Here is one of her daughter and her amazing eyelashes.

brothers

2008-09-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

a rare moment where Jack would take a picture with Sam.

my dad and sam

2008-09-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

old pictures

2008-09-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

I was looking at old photos and liked these two.

Happy Birthday Amy!

2008-09-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't talk to you today. Hope you had a wonderful birthday.

We miss you!

one more I liked from the other day...

2008-09-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

feet and hands

2008-09-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

boats

2008-09-18T20:16:00.001-07:00

Jack loves going with John to see the boats come in from Lake Michigan. He also loves the ice cream carts in Chicago. I love the light at the end of the day. I also love getting out of the house.

before and after

2008-09-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Aunt Christine wanted to see his new haircut.

eyes open

2008-09-18T18:28:00.003-07:00

For Amy...

making art

2008-09-18T18:28:00.001-07:00

2008-09-17T19:06:00.001-07:00

A few from the hospital and at home...

2008-09-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

my birth story

2008-09-16T20:54:00.001-07:00

On Saturday morning I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. It was an interesting end to an interesting month.
At 8 am I felt my water break. John and I were looking forward to a day of cleaning and preparing for baby. When I told John that my water broke he said to me, "you have got to be kidding me".
We had people working on our house and John asked to run to the lumber store to pick up a few things. I was hoping to take a shower when he got home.
At 8:45 I told him that my contractions were going and for him to get home.
At 8:50 John came home and called his parents to come and watch Jack.
At 9:10 we left for the hospital. I don't think I have ever gone down the stairs so quickly.
On the drive down to the hospital my contractions were one to two minutes apart. I was starting to push and I told him that I was going to have the baby in the car. John blew 3 red lights in downtown Chicago.
Just after 9:20 we arrived at the hospital and I was brought directly into the delivery room.
at 9:48 our son was born.
My doctor didn't have time to change into her scrubs.

So here are the stats...
Name: Samuel Huck Olech
Weight: 8 pounds 2 ounces
Height: 20.5 inches

Samuel Huck

2008-09-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

So our little guy was born a little over 3 weeks ago.

He was 8 pounds 2 ounces and 20.5 inches long
August 23 at 9:48

Some highlights from this month-

1) He started sucking his thumb at 3 days old
2) He grunts
3) He hates being swaddled and loves to eat

He weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces at his 2 week checkup.

finally!

2008-04-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted for a long time and I wanted to say that I will try to be better about this! I am now 19 weeks pregnant and feeling little butterflies everyday. It is truly an exciting feeling and this time I do feel a little different. I am super emotional and I am always tired. I also look like the baby has sucked the beauty out of me.

Here are some old photos of Jack and a new 21 month old one as well. He is so sweet, I love this kid.

My favorite picture of Jack

2007-04-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

Elaine Melko Photography

2006-10-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

I am hoping to have a website soon, but for the meantime I thought I could post some of my work here. I am a new mom who is quite passionate about photography, and am hoping to start a new career. My rates are quite inexpensive...and I will travel to your location.

Thanks for looking and keep an eye out for my website.

Illustration Friday

2005-08-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

"DREAMS"

2005-08-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

Playing with photos that
I have taken of a farm in Iowa.

This is all new to me.

2005-08-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

Hello land of bloggers! I was insprired by "Leezybloggs.blogspot.com" to get started and get some work out here. It is amazing how talented all of you are, and it such a treat to see work that inspires and makes me not want to watch T.V. when I get home from work.

Because this is all new to me, I may not be the most savvy blogger. But I am going to try to help bring some life to all of your pencils, pens, scissors, paints, etc. And change my, "I will do it tomorrow" attitude.

Have fun looking, and thanks for getting me motivated.