Auto transmission problem diagnoses

[BiXLL]

During our last cold spell about a week ago I started hearing what I thought was the start of either an alternator or water pump bearing starting to go out. Not loud, but noticeable. Last night coming home from work it got louder so when I got home I popped the hood to find out which it was. The noise was not coming from the front of the motor, but rather from the transmission area! It was late and dark, the transmission was acting fine except for that noise so I decided I would look at it today after work.Going to work this morning I got about 20 miles from home and I noticed it shifted funny going into third. Another 5 miles and my tach was going higher and I was slowing down, another mile I had no transmission like it was in neutral. I got it off the side of the road and shut it down and checked under hood and found nothing out of the ordinary. I started it back up after a few min and when I put it in drive I felt it engage so I took off for the last 1/2 mile to work. I got into the parking lot and it was dead in the water again. I shut it off for like 15 seconds and when I started it I was able to get it in the parking space. Now it will barely move after sitting all day. What do you guys think, torque converter, pump, or what? What could be causing the bad bearing type noise, I have never heard that from a transmission????