Justin Lubin/NBC
Fans of NBC's The Office have been awaiting the happy news, and finally, in Thursday's hour-long episode, Jim and Pam's baby arrived. And joy rang out across the land!
Was there ever anything cuter than Jim (John Krasinski) panicking about getting Pam (Jenna Fischer) to the hospital, Andy (Ed Helms) dancing to distract his pregnant colleague from her contractions, Michael (Steve Carell) storming the maternity ward with a giant balloon bouquet -- and blanching when he walked in on Pam in labor pushing the baby out? Okay, that last bumbling mistake was not so cute for Michael ("I'm gonna wash my eyes out now"), but the fact remains -- the arrival of tiny Cecilia Marie was as precious as promised.
The episode did raise four burning questions, though:
1.) Do hospitals really employ male lactation consultants? Young, handsome ones who offer hands-on breastfeeding counsel to new moms? While new dads watch? Pam accepted the nature of the clinical situation, totally indifferent to anything but the task at hand (getting Cecilia fed) -- but we're with Jim. That's just not right.
2.) Mistakenly breastfeeding someone else's newborn doesn't happen -- does it? It seemed beyond credible that Pam would sleepily bring another mom's baby to her breast, but when you factor in the mind-numbing exhaustion of birthing a child in the first place, it actually makes you wonder how it doesn't happen more often!
3.) Is anyone kinder than Erin, the receptionist? When Michael -- high on the misguided notion that his matchmaking led Jim and Pam to bring forth new life -- forced Erin (Ellie Kemper) into a break-room date with Kevin (Brian Baumgartner), she redefined the term "good sport." We don't know anyone who would try harder to spare Kevin's feelings. Happily, she got her real wish when Andy asked her out!
4.) Is Dwight insane? His plan to boost his sales by siring a child, his pregnancy contract with Angela (Angela Kinsey) stipulating that the child must be male, his pantsless sleepover in Jim and Pam's bed and his demolition of their kitchen in an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition gone wrong... You might question whether Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is firing on all cylinders during any Office season or episode, but he's bordering on certifiable now!
Jim and Pam will take parental leave from Dunder-Mifflin as they sleep-walk their way through the culture shock of getting to know baby Cecilia's burps, cries and coos. But come on, with such fan interest in their relationship, odds are we'll see the coworkers barging into the Halpert home regularly. Just as long as they use hand sanitizer first. (And don't wipe it off on your pants, Michael.)
PLUS:
- VIDEO: Erin and Kelly of The Office sing "Male Prima Donna"
What do you think of the name Jim & Pam gave their baby: Cecilia Marie? Chime in below!
