North Bay Woman

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 | NORTH BAY WOMAN 19 COVER STORY Balancing her family life and her life's work creative j ourney JENNIFER'S By Penny Popken Photos by Stuart Lirette Motherhood becomes Jennifer Siebel Newsom. California's Second Lady and her husband, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, welcomed baby number three last summer, and the busy mom warms up when talking about her children. "Our kids are very sweet but definitely passionate and high energy," Newsom laughs. Montana, age 4, is "a force of nature, full of zest and love. She loves to read." Son Hunter, age 2 ½, "is very sweet and loving. He loves music and loves to boogie. He's sweet but impish, like I was growing up." That leaves baby Brooklynn, born last July. "She's our Buddha baby, so sweet and mellow. She's been a really easy third child." Each of the children's names has a special meaning for mom and dad. "Montana was named after our favorite place," Newsom explains. Jennifer's family has a ranch in the Treasure State, and "Gavin is an ob- sessed fly fisherman. We also got married there." Naming their firstborn daughter Montana also made sense because "she's strong and power- ful, an adventurous soul." "Hunter was my favorite name for a boy," says Newsom of her son. Though her husband had some other ideas, her choice eventually pre- vailed. Brooklynn's name has an especially sweet back story: Newsom's younger sister, Brooke, was her mother's third child and Brooklynn is Newsom's third child. Lynn is Newsom's middle name, and Stacia, Brooklynn's middle name, was the name of Newsom's older sister (called Stacey) who died during childhood. "So we tied it all together," Newsom says. Though the couple hasn't ruled out additional children, Newsom, who turns 40 this year, says she's "not sure. I just love kids so much (even though) I wasn't that girl who was going to grow up and have five kids. I would adopt, but I'm pretty maxed out right now." What keeps Newsom so busy is her work as a writer, director, advocate, speaker and CEO of The Representation Project. Newsom founded the non-profit in 2011, and she now runs it from an office at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross. The organization, in conjunc- tion with Newsom's production company, Girls Club Entertainment, > Left: Jennifer with her son Hunter enjoying a walk outdoors.

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