Jenna Bush Hager’s Kids: The Scoop on Her Three Little Stars

Okay, let’s talk about Jenna Bush Hager, because I’m kinda obsessed with how she juggles her TODAY gig and mom life with three kids who are just the cutest. She’s George W. and Laura Bush’s daughter, sure, but at home with her husband, Henry Hager, she’s just trying to survive the daily chaos of raising Mila, Poppy, and Hal. I’ve been following Jenna’s stories forever her Instagram’s like a warm hug and her tales about Jenna Bush Hager’s children make me laugh and tear up all at once. So, grab a coffee, and let’s dive into what makes her family so darn lovable.

The Hager Gang: Who’s Who

Jenna and Henry got married in 2008 at her family’s Texas ranch super romantic, right? Since then, they’ve got three kids who keep their house loud and lively:

• Mila Hager (born April 13, 2013)
• Poppy Hager (born August 13, 2015)
• Hal Hager (born August 2, 2019)

Each kid’s got a name with some family history, and they’re all so different, it’s like Jenna’s running a mini circus. Here’s the lowdown on these three.

Mila: The Sweet Big Sister

Mila’s the oldest, born April 13, 2013, and she’s 11 going on 30. Her full name’s Margaret Laura Hager, after her grandmas Laura Bush and Margaret Hager which is just so sweet it hurts. She was a tiny thing, born early at not quite 7 pounds, and I remember Jenna’s posts about her like it was yesterday. Total heart-melter.

Mila’s got this huge heart. Jenna’s always telling stories about her, like how she wrote a note to her little sister, Poppy, with all this big-sister wisdom about sleepaway camp. It was so cute, it had Jenna and Henry bawling. She’s also crazy curious always asking questions that make Jenna pause. Like, there was this one time Mila overheard something nuts at the Oscars and was like, “Mom, what’s the deal?” Jenna didn’t miss a beat, grabbed a book, and they talked it out. I’m like, can I borrow her parenting playbook?

Mila’s a bookworm, which tracks since Jenna’s all about her Read with Jenna book club. She’s already writing her own stories and dreaming about being a writer or maybe a doctor she’s hooked on Grey’s Anatomy. But she’s still a kid, you know? She gets all embarrassed when her grandma Laura shows up and goes full grandma mode. Been there, Mila.

Poppy: The Spark Plug

Then there’s Poppy, born August 13, 2015, and let me tell you, this nine-year-old’s got some serious pizzazz. Her name, Poppy Louise, comes from her great-grandpa George H.W. Bush’s childhood nickname, and the Louise part’s for her grandmas. When she was born, Jenna posted this picture and was like, “We’re in love!” I mean, same.

Poppy’s the kid who’s gonna steal the show. She’s all about becoming an actress or model, and I can totally see it she’s got that spark. She’s super close with Mila, once writing her this adorable note calling her a “superhero” for being so awesome. Those two are like peas in a pod. Poppy’s also tight with her grandpa, George W. Bush. A while back, she got him to Zoom into her class, and then she tried to get her friends a ride on Air Force One. Like, girl, slow down!

She’s a little adventurer, too. She went to this Texas summer camp the same one Jenna went to and was freaking out about bugs, but came back with all these wild stories. That’s Poppy: a little nervous but always ready to jump in.

Hal: The Chaos King

Last up is Hal, the baby of Jenna Bush Hager’s children, born August 2, 2019. His real name’s Henry Harold Hager, after his dad and Jenna’s grandpa, but Mila and Poppy dubbed him “Hal pal,” and it’s just too perfect. He’s five now, and oh man, he’s a tornado with a side of cuddles.

When Hal was born, his sisters were obsessed, running to the hospital to meet him. He’s the only boy, so he’s all about wrestling and then giving you the biggest hug. Jenna’s got the best stories about him, like when he went after Poppy with a toy fart gun and had to write a sorry note mostly because Jenna made him. Everyone says he’s the spitting image of his grandpa George W. Bush, especially those big, cheeky eyes.

Hal started kindergarten this year, and Jenna said he was a little shaky about it. She got down on his level, told him about her own first-day nerves, and helped him find his brave. It’s so her always making her kids feel seen. He’s also pumped about being a big cousin to his aunt Barbara’s kids, Cora and Edward. When Edward showed up right after Hal’s birthday, he was like, Forget presents, this is awesome!

Mom Life, Jenna Style

Jenna’s always saying being a mom’s her biggest dream, and you can tell she’s all in, even with her crazy TODAY schedule. She’s got this way of making Mila, Poppy, and Hal feel like they’re her whole world. I just want them to know they’re loved, she said once, and it’s like, pass the tissues. Whether she’s reading bedtime stories or cheering at a school thing, she’s there, probably with a coffee in hand and a messy bun.

But let’s be real three kids is no joke. She’s had her share of oops moments, like when she lost one of Mila’s friends at a waterpark birthday party. She was laughing about it with Hoda Kotb, like, Can we start a ‘moms who are over it’ club? I’m signing up. Still, Jenna’s got this chill vibe about it all. She wants her kids to have the kind of childhood she did, with parents who made time for her and her twin sister, Barbara, no matter what.

Their house is all about books over screens. Jenna and Henry read with the kids every night, and Mila’s already raiding Jenna’s bookshelf. Henry’s this outdoorsy dude he’s got an Eagle Scout badge, because of course he does so he’s always dragging the kids on hikes or backyard treasure hunts.

Family Feels and Fun Traditions

The Hager kids have the coolest extended family. Their grandparents, George and Laura Bush, are super involved. George, who they call Jefe, paints these amazing pictures of the kids and even their dog, which is next-level grandpa stuff. Laura’s visits make Mila cringe a little now that she’s hitting that preteen phase same, girl. Jenna’s twin, Barbara, is a big deal in their lives, too. She and Jenna write kids’ books together, like Love Comes First, which are basically big hugs in book form for their kids.

The Hagers are all about traditions. Christmas Eve is milk and cookies for Santa, and summers mean trips to Maine where the kids go wild. Jenna’s Instagram’s like a family photo album there’s this one Thanksgiving pic from 2024 that Barbara took, with everyone crammed together, probably fighting over mashed potatoes. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s them.

What’s Coming Up

With Mila creeping toward middle school, Poppy plotting her Hollywood takeover, and Hal zooming through kindergarten, Jenna’s holding onto every minute. She’s joked about wanting another kid, but Henry’s like, Three’s good, babe! I don’t blame him their hands are full, but they make it look like a blast.

Jenna Bush Hager’s children are growing up in a house that’s all heart, a little chaos, and a lot of love. Mila’s got her quiet wisdom, Poppy’s got her wild dreams, and Hal’s got his nonstop energy. Jenna’s sharing their journey with so much realness, it’s like we’re all along for the ride.