Becoming a mother has its fair share of challenges, but Elizabeth “Liz” Johnston faces some unique issues: she is a little person raising an average-sized baby.
As a member of the largest known family of little people in the world, Johnston and her pregnancy were chronicled by the family’s reality show, TLC’s “7 Little Johnstons.” Viewers witnessed baby Leighton’s arrival on last season’s finale in July, and in the new season they’ll be able to follow along as Johnston adjusts to motherhood.
TODAY.com obtained an exclusive clip from the season premiere which airs this Sunday, Jan. 5.
The clip opens with Johnston’s parents, Trent and Amber Johnston, discussing the changes in their household.
“There was a moment when we weren’t quite empty nesters, but we were Mom and Dad and Alex and Emma,” Trent said of his previously shrinking household with just two of his five children living at home. “We even had our own little text group called ‘The Fab Four.'”
Now Liz and Leighton have moved back home, and though Brice Bolden — Liz’s boyfriend and Leighton’s father — doesn’t technically live with them, Trent said, “Brice is pretty much here all the time now.”
The scene shifts to the nursery, where Liz is soothing Bolden as much as her daughter.
Liz has achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism. Bolden does not. For the majority of her pregnancy, Liz didn’t know if the baby she was carrying would be a little person. When doctors discovered the baby could curl up in a fetal position while in utero, they knew she would be average-sized “because LP babies can’t do that” Liz told TODAY.com in 2024.
“Wanna try to hold her, Dad?” Liz asked Bolden in the clip.
“Ummm … do I need to put her on my shoulder, or hold her this way?” Bolden said, making a cradling motion.
“Just make sure her head’s up,” Liz answers patiently.
In an on-camera interview, Bolden admitted that though he was nervous holding Leighton right after she was born, he’s much more comfortable now.
But when Bolden held his daughter to his chest, she continued to cry.
“Don’t get your feelings hurt,” Liz laughed. “She will get used to you.”
As Liz looked on with a smile, Bolden said he’s most looking forward to taking his daughter hunting and fishing. But for now, he can’t get her to stop crying.
He handed Leighton off to Liz, who swayed back and forth and patted her back, settling her down almost immediately.
“Girl, why can’t you do that with me?” Bolden asked. “Is it because I’m too big? Am I ugly?”
