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Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI (2), Howard Wise/JPI

On January 7, 2014, then-married General Hospital castmates Kirsten Storms (Maxie) and Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny) welcomed into the world their baby girl, Harper Rose.

A lot of people say, “My life is a soap opera.” But if Harper Barash someday does so, she could actually mean it, what with her parents both being daytime stars. Mom is Kirsten Storms, who went from Days of Our Lives as Belle to General Hospital as Maxie, and Dad is her former husband, Brandon Barash, who went from General Hospital as Johnny to Days of Our Lives as Stefan (then Jake… then Stefan again).

Of course, just because Harper’s folks are in the business of continuing drama doesn’t mean at all that her life is full of Sturm und Drang. On the contrary, the youngster is being raised in laughter and love. Just look below at how she spent the day before her eighth birthday in 2022. “This girl knows how to find joy in anything,” marveled Storms. “Her spirit is goals.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)

“I can’t believe she’s turning 8 tomorrow,” she added. Neither could we. But the math adds up, especially when you scroll down and review Harper’s whole life in pictures, starting with…

More: Soap stars and their real-life moms [PHOTOS]

The Face of an Angel

Only two days after Harper made her debut, so to speak, Storms shared a snap of “Daddy’s lil’ princess” that was so sweet, it would’ve melted a heart made of granite.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


Class Act

In November of 2014, Barash dropped an artistic B&W shot of Harper. “A dear friend/mentor said to me, ‘Kids teach us all we need to know about love,’” he wrote. “‘It’s a lecture. Without words. You either join or you don’t.’ I’m in.”

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


Two of a Kind

By March of 2015, there was no mistaking that Storms had on her hands a real Mini Me in Harper. “Fries and all,” she noted.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


In a League of Her Scones

Also clear: who ruled the roost. Barash could tell during tea time with the tot that “she clearly scoffs and doesn’t approve of the position of my pinkie.”

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


Well, ‘Eye’ Never!

Harper wasn’t even a year old when Mom marveled that she’d already “perfected the side-eye.” And Storms had “no idea where she got that from. None whatsoever.” Mm-hmm.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


Later Tater

In April of 2016, Harper helped Pop redefine procrastination. “If procrastinating means loving on this wee one,” he said, “I’ll take it.”

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


Hot Buttered Entertainment

A 2017 trip to the movies with her folks seemed to leave Harper unsure whether she was going to give the feature a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Her “face, though,” laughed Mom. Hey, stuff happens when you get interrupted chowing down on popcorn.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


Steer Ye, Steer Ye

Harper was just 3 when Dad noticed that “someone likes being in the driver’s seat” and wondered if it was “a metaphor of developing personality traits.”

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


Smiles for Miles

If only you could bottle the joy in Harper’s expression in the pic Storms posted in April of 2018. “I’ve never seen someone so happy about bubbles,” she said. (Though now that we have, we’ll have to consider their potential for generating excitement… )

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


It Takes Two

With Harper’s help, Barash’s Movie Quote Monday around her birthday in 2018 was particularly memorable. Bonus points to those of you who can name the flick to which they’re paying hilarious homage

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


School Days

In 2019, it was “Hello, kindergarten!” for Harper.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


Whoa

“This kid blows my mind, like a brain-matter splatter,” exclaimed Barash in the spring of 2019. Play the video below to see why; the moppet’s got some deep thoughts.

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


Dad to the Bone

On Father’s Day 2020, Storms gave a shout-out to the ex with whom she coparents Harper, noting, “Your love for our kid is endless — I see it in the hugs you give each other when you’ve only been apart for a few days… ” And that was just for starters.

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


All in the Family

In June of 2020, Harper’s folks got together for her commencement. “And although I appear constipated in this photo,” Barash noted, “I was elated.” Good to know!

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)


Totes Adorbs

In April of 2021, Storms expressed a sentiment that ah, every parent has felt at one point or other, right? “OMG,” she captioned a cute pic with Harper, “I could just eat her face.”

 

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A post shared by Kirsten Storms (@kirstenstorms)


And She’s Only Just Begun

When Harper turned 7 in 2021, Barash couldn’t contain his admiration for his and Storms’ daughter. “This one’s got more ‘cool’ in her pinky finger than I’ll ever have in my whole body,” he remarked. “Which I just proved by putting quotes around the word cool.”

 

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)

More: Read Kirsten Storm’s heart-melting birthday message to Harper

In the mood to see more photos of your favorite stars and their little ones? The below photo gallery is made for you.