And Maggie Makes Three

"And Maggie Makes Three" is the thirteenth episode of Season 6 of The Simpsons.
==Synopsis==
Lisa wonders why there aren't any photos of Maggie in the family album. Homer answers by telling the story of how he had to give up his dream job when Maggie was born.
==Full Story==
While Marge insists on having the weekly family hour without watching TV, the family has a moment of silence but decides to look at photo albums. While looking through the family photo albums, Bart and Lisa comment on the lack of baby pictures of Maggie, when the kids ask why there are no pictures of Maggie, Homer recalls Maggie's conception and birth. He initially tries to embellish the circumstances, by claiming he single-handedly took out an all-star team of freelance terrorists that forcibly took over the power plant, although Marge asks him into giving the actual facts on what happened: Homer hated working at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and his dream job was to work at a bowling alley. Homer had been putting a lot of money toward paying down his debts, and finally got a paycheck that allowed him to finally clear the last of his debts. Through careful budgeting, he managed to make his dream of working in the bowling alley come true. It meant less pay, but also less stress, a friendly atmosphere, a job he truly loved, and enabled the family to have just the right amount of money to get by with the four of them. Homer's theory that everything would be fine so long as nothing changed was correct—so far.
That night, after Homer made that assessment, he went with Marge on a romantic date. They go to Krusty Burger while vibing to disco music, before going to the beac. to go on a stroll holding hands. They eventually lie down in the sand to kiss. They go home to conclude the evening with a session of 'lovemaking', which resulted in Marge becoming pregnant. As it turns out, Homer had no idea Marge was pregnant, even though she was throwing up every morning and racing to the bathroom. Knowing that another baby would mean that Homer would have to get a better-paying job, Marge tried to keep it a secret from Homer as long as she could, but Patty and Selma managed to find out. Even though they craftily promised not to tell Homer, they phoned up the two biggest gossips in town, who quickly spread the word that Marge was pregnant. Then they threw Marge a "surprise" baby shower after "forgetting" that Homer was due back from work soon. While walking home, people were congratulating Homer on Marge’s pregnancy, but he thought they were congratulating him on his new job. Homer broke down when he realized that Marge was pregnant when he came home and saw the baby shower. However, Marge points out that this was NOT the first time Homer reacted this way when he found out she was pregnant. As it turns out, he reacted the same way when he found out that she was pregnant with Bart and Lisa.
Homer was not happy when he found out about the new baby, and completely unenthusiastic about the impending birth. Because a new baby upset all of his financial planning, Homer would have to quit his dream job at the bowling alley and go back to the Power Plant. He tries to get a raise, but his boss says he will only get one if their business does better and if customer service improves. However, Homer does not help business and has to quit his job at the Bowling Alley and ask for his old job back. Mr. Burns smugly allowed him to return, but only after placing a plaque in Homer's workstation that said. "Don't forget you're here forever," to remind him that he could never quit again (or would likely not get any more promotions). As much as he dreaded the idea of having another child (as he was not enthusiastic when Marge was giving birth), as soon as Maggie was born, Homer immediately fell in love with her when she touched his thumb.
Back in the present, Homer remarks that he did love her right from the start. Bart again asks why Maggie's baby pictures aren't in the photo albums. Homer merely replies that he keeps them where he needs the most cheering up, and the scene changes to show Homer's sector at the nuclear plant, complete with the plaque from Burns. Homer has taken all of Maggie's baby pictures to work, positioning them around the plaque so that it now says, "Do it for her."
==Behind the Laughter==
===Reception===
In its original American broadcast, "And Maggie Makes Three" finished 47th in the ratings for the week of January 16 to January 22, 1995, with a Nielsen rating of 10.3.
==Citations==
fr:Et avec Maggie ça fait trois
pl:And Maggie Makes Three
pt:E com Maggie já são três
Category:Maggie episodes
Category:Episodes named after a character
Category:Mr. Burns Episodes
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Simpson Family Bonding episodes
Category:Flashback episodes
Category:Episodes Set in The Past
Category:Episodes named after Maggie
Category:Episodes with alternate end credits
Category:Directed by Swinton O. Scott III
Category:Written by Jennifer Crittenden
Category:Highly Rated Episodes
Category:Episodes where Maggie cries