*Click*

I was helping Lauren put her shoes on when I heard the familiar *click* of the car doors locking. My thought process went something like this: "Hmm...I wonder why the doors locked. I didn't do it. Lauren isn't holding my keys. I wonder where I left my keys...ELLA!!!!!" I flew around the corner into the garage so fast that I couldn't stop before bouncing off the car. There was Ella sitting in her car seat smiling and gnawing on my keys. The thoughts tumbled through my mind so fast it took a couple minutes for the situation to sink in: It couldn't be happening. I would never let this happen. Where's the loop hole? This is a joke. I'm missing something obvious because I would NEVER let my 10 month old baby lock herself in the car. I'm not that kind of person (the locksmith later reminded me that I am human like everyone else and humans do things like that everyday). I replayed my steps in my mind a few times before it sunk in that I was in a pickle (well, Ella was in a pickle). I had Ella, the diaper bag, my purse, the GPS and my keys in my hands when I came downstairs. Ella was reaching for something to play with, so I let her take the keys in an effort to keep her from throwing herself out of my arms. Then the rapid succession of events that seemed so harmless to me: open back door; baby in; close back door; open front door; dump diaper bag, purse, and GPS on seat; close front door; tell Lauren for the third time to put her shoes on. That's when Ella's cute little fingers found the lock button. I must have been begging Ella through the window to push the button without realizing it because all of a sudden Lauren was pounding on the car door yelling at Ella to push the button. I checked all the doors and windows to no avail. I could hear the voice of the GPS on the front seat saying "Satellite reception lost. Please drive to highlighted route." (If you're wondering about a spare key at this point, yes I have one but until a couple hours ago it was sitting in the glove compartment where it was put when we moved.) I didn't know what to do. Luckily the car was in the garage and the weather is cool here, so there was no danger of her overheating. However, if you paid close attention to the steps I traced previously, nowhere did I say "buckle baby into car seat." I was terrified that she would throw herself head first onto the floor. I made a frantic call to my husband who knew exactly what to do (always helps to have someone with a level head around). I pulled Lauren's stepping stool up next to the car so she and I could watch Ella while we waited for the locksmith. Lauren was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe. I'm not sure that she understood what was going on, but it was hilarious anyway. Ella rolled around and turned in her car seat, but never flipped herself out of it. By the time the locksmith came, Ella was tired of the game and was screaming. I was so relieved when he popped the lock and I opened the door to scoop Ella up. I hate to curse myself, but that will NEVER happen to me again...