‘7 Little Johnstons’: Liz SHEDS LIGHT On Anna Relationship & Life w/ Leighton

Liz, it’s been so great to follow your journey through season 15! Looking back, what’s been the most memorable for you?

Liz: Honestly, just the fact that you said “season 15” blew my mind. When we started, we were thinking about maybe 10 seasons, but here we are! My life has changed so much since last season—Leighton is almost a year and a half old, walking, talking, and no longer on formula. We’ve gone through so many big transitions, but they’ve all been so positive.

What’s so adorable is that she looks tiny on TV, but she looks so much bigger on Instagram! You said Leighton is almost walking, what’s that been like?

Liz: Oh my gosh, it’s so adorable! I can liken it to the way a penguin walks—small, quick steps. She’s getting more confident every day. In our living room, we have a sofa, a chair, and a chaise longue, which Leighton often uses as an obstacle course. Sometimes, when the family is busy, she will suddenly walk without anyone noticing. We are betting that Leighton will officially start walking by mid- or late February.

And what about talking?

Liz: Yes! Leighton already knows how to say “Mama,” “Dad,” and “D” for her dad. Her little sister Emma is called “Nma,” and her favorite cats are called “kitty.” She also says “ball” and has learned to wave goodbye.

What was her first word?

Liz: I have to say “D”—Bryce wins! At about 10 or 11 months old, Leighton was saying “da-da” and then one day she said “daddy.”

Is Leighton Daddy’s “baby”?

Liz: Absolutely! Bryce is “enchanted” by her. Every time he comes home from work, the first person Leighton wants to see is Daddy. Bryce even said that when we have our own house, he will spoil her to the core. I’m assigned to be the “strict one,” while Bryce will be the “loving king.”

Do you think Leighton resembles you or Bryce more?

Liz: Some of her expressions are exactly like Bryce’s! When we sit next to each other, we both make the same stern face. Leighton has her dad’s eyes, nose, and mouth, but her dimples are exactly like mine.

Leighton has an incredibly gentle personality. She doesn’t like toys, but loves books, turning the pages gently. I know many people say that children change when they start walking, but Leighton is really delicate.

The show has captured some of your family’s best moments, but it also shows the challenges of being a parent. What has been the hardest part of the past 14 months?

Liz: Seeing your child sick and not being able to do much has been the most heartbreaking. When Leighton first started nursery for a few weeks, she had a fever, lost her appetite and looked very tired. I had to go to work but she was always on my mind. When I got home, I expected to see a happy Leighton, but she just lay there sullenly.

Another difficult period was the three weeks of acid reflux when she was a baby. The only way Leighton could sleep was for me to sit in a recliner with her on my chest all night. We did that for three weeks until we found a way to control it. I was exhausted!

What was it like living with family while raising a baby?

Liz: My family were always there to help, and Bryce’s parents only lived three doors down. My sister Emma was great with Leighton. It’s been fun to not only see us grow as parents, but also to see our siblings grow as uncles and aunts. While we sometimes disagree on parenting styles, we always appreciate everyone’s help.

How has your relationship with Bryce changed?

Liz: It’s definitely more fun! Before it was all about eating-sleeping-diapering, but now we can play with Leighton, take her out to explore the world. It’s also fun to watch her imitate adult actions. Overall, we’re a lot stronger.

You mentioned that you wanted to buy or build a house before Leighton’s 2nd birthday. How’s that going?

Liz: It’s still a dream! Stay tuned this season to see how we progress.

What about having another child?

Liz: I’ve convinced Bryce! He originally wanted just one, but now he’s agreed that when Leighton is about 2.5 – 3.5, we’ll have another. Bryce wants to stop at two, and I agree.

Aside from the parenthood journey, what else can viewers expect this season?

Liz: You’ll see Emma and Alex grow up, my brothers’ relationships with their girlfriends, Leighton’s development, and especially updates on my relationship with Anna.

What can you share about the situation with Anna?

Liz: I know a lot of people are curious because they’ve read articles about my family. Like any family, we have our struggles. But I hope this season will help viewers understand the situation better and maybe empathize if they’re going through something similar.

How’s your dad’s health?

Liz: My dad was diagnosed with sleep apnea. This season will go into more detail about his condition and why it’s causing his health issues.

How did it feel to see your dad go through this?

Liz: Working in the medical field helped me understand my dad’s condition, but accepting that it was my family member was a different story. I’m used to taking care of sick people, but now it’s my dad—which is very difficult to deal with.

Would you like to continue the show for season 16?

Liz: We would love to! If there was another season or two, I think we would have had a fulfilling and meaningful ending to the show.