Jenna Bush Hager's 3 Kids: All About Mila, Poppy and Hal

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Jenna Bush Hager Instagram

Jenna Bush Hagerand her husband,Henry Chase Hager, are proud parents to three kids: daughtersMilaandPoppy, plus sonHal.

The former first daughter has beencandid about her journey to motherhoodover the years, admitting that “logistics can be difficult” now that she’s a mom of three. She devotes time to “making sure that each child has the love that I know I feel for them.” Overall, expanding her family has brought her more joy than ever. “It’s fun,” she told PEOPLE after the birth of her third child. “I’m really happy.”

“I think having children and your body changing in that way is such a good sort of reset where you’re like, ‘Wow, I’ve been doing this incredible thing, and my body is so much more than a vessel to be made fun of, to be worrying about,’ " theTodayshow co-host told PEOPLE about howher children have impacted her body image.

“My biggest dream was to be a mom,” she shared onTodayin October 2022. “That’s all I wanted. And my girls, I said to Henry, they have these other dreams.”

Rather than talking about “motherhood or marrying,” her daughters discuss their future career paths, she said. “Mila’s like ‘I’m going to write a story, I’m going to be an author. I’m going to be a lawyer,’ all these things. Poppy’s like ‘I’m going to be an actor.’ "

“I kind of love that maybe because their mom worked — and my mom worked too — that I get up every day and I’m not there to make them breakfast, but they see something different,” she added, realizing that her working outside of the home had potentially opened up a world of possibilities to her kids.

Jenna Bush Hager Instagram

While she often gushes about her kids on theTodayshow, Bush Hager also keeps it real, sharing, “Sometimes I hide from the kids in the pantry and just have a cheese stick.” She’s not afraid to admit that there are “parts of mothering that are tediousand can be boring.”

“What I try to do is think that is life, those tedious parts are also that’s what we’re doing, that’s what we’re living,” she told PEOPLE. “I try to find the love and the pleasure that I know I have for my kids even in the tedious parts of parenting.”

All parenting challenges aside, Bush Hager would love to have more children.

In April 2023, while talking toReba McEntireonToday, Bush Hager shared that her parents,Laura Bushand former PresidentGeorge W. Bush,try to be “as fun as possible” with her kids.

“They kind of break up the schedules. They’re like, ‘Sure you can have your iPad all morning. You want ice cream for breakfast? Sure,’ " she said.

Here’s everything to know about Jenna Bush Hager’s children.

Mila,11

“Laura and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our grandchild, Margaret Laura ‘Mila’ Hager,” Bush wrote, going on to explain the significance of the newborn’s moniker. “Mila, daughter of Jenna and Henry Hager, is named for her grandmothers.”

After announcing the time and date of her birth, Bush added, “Jenna and Mila are healthy. And our family is elated.”

On the day of Mila’s birth — which was notably three and a half weeks early — Bush Hager wasactually taking an exercise class. “I always have loved to exercise,” she told PEOPLE. “I did SoulCycle the day my daughter Mila was born.”

Over the years, the children’s book author has shared several anecdotes about her oldest, ranging from her daughter’s questions about the birds and the bees to her frankness aroundBush Hager’s beauty routine.

Revealing that a then-8-year-old Milafirst asked about sexafter it came up in Daniel Kaluuya’s Oscars speech in 2021, Bush Hager said she redirected the conversation. “And for some reason, on a Sunday night, in bed with my daughter reading a book, I couldn’t go there,” she admitted. “I said, ‘No, he said, “Sixty-six! Six! Six is a number!” And she looked at me with her little eyes, like, ‘You’re lying.’ Henry was like, ‘This wasn’t a good idea [to let her watchthe Oscars].’ "

Celebrating Mila’s 8th birthday, theproud mom praised her daughteron Instagram, writing, “Happiest Birthday to our dearest Mila. EIGHT years ago you came into the world fast and spirited — making me a mom — changing me forever,” she said. “Your creativity, leadership, empathy and heart INSPIRE.”

Milaisn’t shy about speaking her mind, as she demonstrated during a surprise visit to theTodayshow in December 2022, where she aired some of her mom’s dirty — and in some cases, non-existent — laundry.

“One time she was laughing in our living room and she peed her pants!” Mila told co-hostHoda Kotb, after Kotb revealed that she loves most when Bush Hager laughs uncontrollably. “You changed your pajamas!” Mila added.

She didn’t stop there: After some more cajoling from Kotb, Mila revealed that her mom was going commando (somethingBush Hager has openly discussed). “She never wears underwear! She is not wearing it right now! I saw her change!”

TheTodayhost continued, “Your determined, generous and beautiful soul has made the last decade my happiest! We love you so much Mila. What a gorgeous gift it is to be your Mama.”

Poppy Louise, 9

Poppy Louise Hagerjoined her big sisteron Aug. 13, 2015. She was born in N.Y.C. at 9:12 a.m., weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches upon arrival.

“We are thrilled to announce the birth of our darling daughter,” the parents said in a statement, adding that their second daughter’s name also held family significance.

“Poppy is named after Jenna’s grandfather,George Herbert Walker “Poppy” Bush,a.k.a. Gampy. His nickname growing up was Poppy, and we are proud to name her after a man we so adore,” they explained, adding that her middle name also honored their family. “Louise is in honor of our grandmothers’ middle names, Louise and Lewis. Mom and Poppy are healthy and well.”

Poppy adores her older sister as well, as seen ina hand-drawn loving tribute to Mila, which Bush Hager showed off on Instagram. “My superhero is Mila because she is kind and nice and she gives me hugs. She gives me love,” she wrote alongside stick figure drawings of the girls.

Although,sometimes she feels jealousof her older sister’s privileges — like one time when she caught her mom and Mila watching Enola Homes in bed after she had already gone to sleep.

“Poppy ran in and said, ‘Why would you do this? Why does she get to watch it?’ And her heart was broken and I did not know what to do,” Bush Hager admitted onToday.

Jenna Bush Hager and family.Jenna Bush Hager/Instagram

Luckily,Poppy got to join in on the funwhen her parents and Mila went to aTaylor Swiftconcert together in Foxborough, Massachusetts in May 2023. In an episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager said the concert was the best she’d ever been to.

“It was so much fun,” Bush Hager said on the show. “We listened to the playlist [before] so the girls could sing almost every word. … We danced like crazy. It was Poppy’s first concert. … We stayed ‘til the end, they were totally enjoying it.”

Hal, 5

“We are overcome with joy to welcome Henry Harold ‘Hal’ Hager into this world!” Bush Hager told PEOPLE. Much like his siblings, his name also honors his family members — including his dad.

“He is named Henry after many on his father’s side including his dear dad and his paternal grandfather. Harold comes from my maternal grandfather, Pa,who I loved dearly and wasunable to keep a son long enough to name,” she said.

In addition to the love and affection of his immediate family, Hal alsohas a very special godmother:Bush Hager’sTodaycostarSavannah Guthrie!

“I’ve never said this before, but Savannah is Hal’s godmother,” she revealed during an Instagram Live with E! News. “Savannah and I go to the same church,” she said, adding, “Our faith is really important.”

During an episode ofToday with Hoda & Jenna,the proud mom celebrated her son again when she talked about a funny conversation they had on the morning of his birthday.

“I FaceTimed him this morning and I said, ‘Hal, do you know in one hour four years ago, you were cut of my tummy?'” the mom of three recalled. “And he goes, ‘Cut out of your tummy?’ " She then made a disgusted face to mimic her son’s reaction.

source: people.com