This is not a recent dream, but it has haunted me since the night I had it. No more than a few months (two at most) before my son was conceived, I dreamed of a baby. I had never really had babies in my dreams before. I don't remember most of the dream, I can only remember the end. I was walking down the sidewalk of a strip-mall near my house. All of the stores were closed, but a woman with a stroller was peering into the windows, looking very lost and out-of-touch. She walked away from the stroller, very languid and nonchalant, and I suddenly felt like I needed to see what was in the stroller (I wasn't even sure it was a baby, although I don't know what else it could have been...) so I could make an assessment of the situation. I walked over and peeked inside, and saw a baby boy, looking exactly like the "Madonna and Child" paintings. The halo around his head was gold and red, and almost solid-looking. The baby was so clean and perfect, sleeping with a smile. I just remember getting this rush, a feeling of awe that I can't explain. I picked the baby up (and knew it was a boy for some reason) and held it for a minute or two.

Then I woke up.

This may sound totally made up, but I told my boyfriend and a few friends about it the very next day. I first thought that I had seen a mythical god and that it was a good omen. After the events of the last two years, I still believe it was a good omen, but not the kind of omen that I had originally had in mind.

Has anyone experienced something similar to this? I thought it was pretty cool, and I'm sure some people will feel like I am reading too much into it, but I'd like to believe that some part of me knew that a big change was coming, and was preparing me for it. Thanks to anyone who responds. I am curious to see what others think about this, even if I come off as a complete lunatic. (The best kind of people in this world are the crazy ones, right?)