Mariska Hargitay’s Life As a Mom

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Mom With a Badge

"I pride myself on being August's mom. I think having a baby -- especially one that's happy -- levels the playing field. Regardless of our career, when it comes to being parents, we share the same profession," Hargitay (with August on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit set in 2007) has said. "No matter how fancy our job or what people project onto you, all of a sudden you're just a mommy and I love that."

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Family Comes First

"I think because I became a mom later in life, everything in life means more," the actress (with husband Peter Hermann and August in 2008) has said. "Every day is deeper and richer and more soulful. Life is more sacred with him. Therefore, work is so much more now because I understand and value everything a little bit more."

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Wacky Winter Fun

Hargitay and her little boy shared a laugh in New York City's West Village in 2008.

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High Flying Family

"He's been traveling since he was six weeks old," the busy mom says of her oldest son (at LAX airport in 2009). "He's racked up some serious Frequent Flyer Miles."

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Make Me Laugh

Hargitay introduced her son to coworkers on SVU's New York City set in 2009.

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Splish Splash!

Not a bad way to spend the winter! Hargitay and Hermann splashed around with their son during a February 2010 trip to St. Barths, France.

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The More the Merrier

In 2010, the Hermann family joined Liev Schreiber and his son Alexander Pete to pose with DJ Lance Rock during a live stage production of Yo Gabba Gabba! at NYC's Radio City Music Hall.

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Story Time

"I believe that God has His timing. Without a doubt, along with Peter, August is the greatest thing that has happened to me," Hargitay (with her husband and son in 2010) has said of waiting to start a family. "There really are no words for the emotions and the highs that I feel."

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Hakuna Matata

Hermann and Hargitay doted on little August during a 2010 trip to see The Lion King on Broadway.

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Mom on the Go

"Mariska is thrilled and amazed with all the new blessings and great fortune," an insider tells Us of Hargitay, who adopted a baby girl named Amaya Josephine in April 2011. "She has more love than she imagined!"

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More to Love

Just six months after adopting her second child, Hargitay once again added to her brood -- bringing home a son, Andrew Nicolas Hargitay Hermann. "He was a preemie," born in the United States about three months early, explains an insider. "He and Amaya are just a few months apart."

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Take My Hand

Juggling two newborns and a toddler have been rewarding yet tiresome for Hargitay (with Amaya in NYC in December 2011) and Hermann. "They are very tired and overwhelmed with the change," a source tells Us. "But overjoyed."