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"Mariska Hargitay sure has a lot to be thankful for as she celebrates her 48th birthday Monday.\r\nNot only is the star kicking butt as Det. Olivia Benson in her 13th season on Law &amp;amp; Order: Special Victims Unit, but the actress -- who married actor Peter Hermann in 2004 -- has three adoring little ones to come home to after grueling days on set.\r\n\r\n&amp;quot;I think because I became a mom later in life, everything in life means more,&amp;quot; Hargitay, who welcomed her first child, a son named August, in June 2006 at age 42, has said. &amp;quot;Every day is deeper and richer and more soulful. Life is more sacred. Therefore, work is so much more now because I understand and value everything a little bit more.&amp;quot;\r\nAnd her life has only become more enriched since adopting daughter Amaya and son Andrew, both within a six-month period in 2011.\r\n&amp;quot;This is a dream finally realized,&amp;quot; a source tells Us Weekly of the family&amp;apos;s now expanded brood.\r\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/mariska-hargitay-turns-48-her-life-as-a-mom-2012231>