Jenna Bush Hager and her husband, Henry Hager, welcomed a their newest addition on Friday after cesarian section. Little Henry Harold "Hal" Hager was born at 9:02 a.m. and weighed 7lbs, 5oz. Bush Hager announced she was pregnant on Today back in April, not long after she took over Kathie Lee Gifford's role with Hoda Kotb.
Bush Hager explained the meaning behind their son's name.
“We are overcome with joy to welcome Henry Harold ‘Hal’ Hager into this world!” the new mom told PEOPLE. “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 was unable to keep a son long enough to name. His sisters are thrilled to have a little brother and already nicknamed his nickname, exclaiming ‘welcome to the world Hal Pal!’"
As for former President George W. Bush, he wasn't as on board as the two little girls!
“My dad was a little mad that the name wasn’t George but [was] just kidding,” said Bush Hager. “He said [Henry] was a cool name.”
Bush Hager's daughters, 4-year-old Poppy Louise and 6-year-old Margaret "Mila" Laura, are both “crazy about him” and “just so thrilled that they have a little baby brother all of their own.”
“We weren’t exactly sure about the name, but then his big sisters arrived and they called him Hal Pal,” Bush Hager recalled. “So we thought, ‘This is just perfect!’ “
George W. Bush posted about his first grandson's arrival on Instagram in a very typical grandfather way.
"@laurawbush and I are thrilled to welcome Henry Harold Hager to our family. We are happy for the proud parents, @jennabhager and Henry. And pleased that Mila and Poppy have a little brother to love. We thank God that mom and baby are healthy, and we look forward to many years of loving the boy known as Hal."
Bush Hager called into Today on Monday to talk about Henry's arrival, and although she admitted that current events are scary, welcoming her little boy was something to celebrate.
“I think when you’re held up in a hospital room with a newborn and you see the light in his eyes, you think, ‘This is what life’s for — to make the world better for our little babes,’ ” she said. “And even though the news outside these walls isn’t so great, seeing the joy in their eyes, that’s what we’re here to do — make their lives safe. And he’s a beautiful, funny little man."
I'm glad Bush Hager's delivery went smoothly, and that her girls are loving on their little brother already! Plus, I love his name.
