'7 Little Johnstons' Liz Dishes on Daughter Leighton and Watching Parents Amber and Trent Become Grandparents (Exclusive)
Liz Johnston from TLC's '7 Little Johnstons'
On Season 14 of 7 Little Johnstons, viewers watched as Liz Johnston revealed she and her boyfriend, Brice Bolden, were expecting their first child. In real-time, however, their baby girl, Leighton, is already 6 months old.
Liz, 22, recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Parade to dish on all things new motherhood.
"It's definitely a different game changer once you realize that all you want to do is everything for your child," the new mom said via Zoom. "Everything just goes to her now."
Watching her parents, Amber and Trent Johnston, become first-time grandparents has been an "awesome" experience, Liz shared. (And for the record, they go by "Lolli and Boppa," not "Grandma and Grandpa.")
"My dad especially, that first night, when they got to meet Leighton, he said, 'There's no other gift greater that you will ever be able to give to your mom and I now.' He's like, 'This is it. Grandkids is it,'" she recalled. "And they even say it's a totally different ball game for them because it's my child, but coming from their child, and it's awesome."
"They have definitely been super helpful to Brice and I—super helpful with me, with helping with Leighton as she grows up teaching me new little things," Liz continued. "Because gosh, they have five of us and they took care of all five of us. So they have lots of different advice and things to teach us, and honestly, it's great. I don't know what I would do without them."
When it comes to parenting tips she's picked up so far, Liz shared, "Do not buy as many newborn and infant outfits as you think." Instead, the new mom suggested to "stick with sleepers for sure" and "wait for all the fun little outfits" until the child is older.
She also encouraged communication between new parents after welcoming a baby.
"Especially through those crazy nights, those long nights, talk to your partner as much as possible," Liz told Parade. "That's really where Brice and I mostly talk, was during the night whenever Leighton would get up."
She continued: "That's truthfully, where Brice and I grew together in our relationship and on this journey of parenthood was through those long nights. Just because it was just him and I–him and I and Leighton—and so, we were figuring it out together and working together as family. "
Finally, Liz shared her favorite things about Leighton, who turned 6 months old on May 3.
"She is starting to really recognize who we are," the new mom said. "She's at that stage now where she'll reach out to people because she knows... And she gets the cutest little smile when she gets very excited."
Liz also declared her love for Leighton's smile and overall energy, noting that her daughter has two adorable dimples and already has some teeth.
"When people meet her, or we're just simply around our family members, they just always talk about how happy of a baby she is," she explained. "We're really blessed to have a super happy and smiley baby."
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