Middle-aged Harry Lambert, the owner of a lumber company, lives in a small New England town with a free-loading son-in-law, Charlie, a lazy daughter, Kate, and an aging wife, Edith. Prodded by her friend Grace, Edith goes to see a doctor for her persistent fatigue and learns that she is pregnant. After the initial shock, she goes on a buying spree and comes home with a new dress and coiffure. Spendthrift Harry becomes upset over her impulsiveness until she announces the doctor's diagnosis. The entire family is stunned, and Harry, much older than the typical new father, feels that he cannot contend with the responsibility. Kate, forced to do all the housework because Harry refuses to hire a maid, counters her father's stubbornness by also trying to have a baby, but her unsuccessful attempts only keep Charlie away from his job at the lumber yard and make him too tired to do anything else. One night, Harry and Charlie go on a wild drinking spree and insult Mayor Crane, who defeated Harry in the last town election. The insults cause Crane to retract a previously arranged deal for Harry to supply the lumber for the town's new stadium. Upon arriving home, Harry finds that Edith has left him. He follows her to Boston and convinces her that he is ready to become a father again. Meanwhile, Charlie regains the contract from Crane, and he and Kate begin to plan their own home. Edith and Harry celebrate their reconciliation by starting a second honeymoon.