Mariska Hargitay Turned 59 in 2023: She & Spouse Raise 3 Kids after Prayer to Adopt & Son 'Fell Out of the Sky'

"Law & Order" Mariska Hargitay, 59, believes she was destined to build a family with her co-star and husband of 18 years, Peter Hermann.

The couple wanted to adopt a child.

Their second adopted child was unexpected as he "fell from the sky" four months after their daughter.

Mariska Hargitay, the actor behind detective Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," celebrated her 59th birthday on January 23, 2023. The "All-American Girl" star said she adores spending quality time with her husband and three children, so she's most likely making the best of her birthday by celebrating it with her loved ones.

Mariska is the mother of two boys, August and Andrew Hermann, and one daughter, Amaya Hermann. She adores raising her children, whom she shares with her husband, Peter Hermann. Mariska's biggest complaint is that there's too little time in a day to work, help with her foundation, and be a mom to her kids.

Mariska gushed that her home is her "happy place." Having her children close by always puts a smile on her face, and with the help of Peter, they've managed to build a blissful, family-oriented home. The actress admitted that she couldn't have created her current life without her husband's help. She shared:

"My husband is my North Star, and my kids are my teachers ... Our family is so perfect, or at least perfect for me."

Mariska posted a photo of a colorful bushel of flowers on her Instagram story. Although she never mentioned who gave it to her, it's safe to say Peter would surely not shy away from such a lovely gesture.

How Were Their Prayers to Adopt Her?

Mariska and Peter first met on "Law & Order: SVU." Mariska had already been acting on the show for a while, while Peter made a guest appearance in one episode in 2002. The two had an excellent rapport, and they soon started spending time together off-set. They dated for a few years and got married in 2004.

When Peter and Mariska tell the story of how they decided to adopt, they always add with a laugh that August believes it was his idea.

The pair knew they wanted to get married and start a family early on, and they had the chance to do so when their first son, August, was born. After they welcomed their first son, they knew they wanted to expand their family further. But instead of having another child, Peter and Mariska decided to turn to adoption.

They started looking at their options, considering adopting domestically as well as internationally. Mariska and Peter kept hoping and praying for the perfect new addition to their family, and in 2011, they found little Amaya Josephine. They knew she was perfect for them when she was born, and Mariska commented, "...our prayers were answered."

The family was elated to have little Amaya with them. Her older brother, August, was especially excited about his new sibling, and he assured his parents that he would be the best older brother anyone could hope for. However, soon after Amaya joined their little gang, an unexpected surprise fell in their laps.

How Did the Third Child "Fall Out of the Sky" Four Months after Adoption?

When Peter and Mariska tell the story of how they decided to adopt, they always add with a laugh that August believes it was his idea. They shared that August returned home from a friend's house after a playdate and said he wanted a younger sibling. Incidentally, his parents were already considering expanding their brood.

They knew the time for adoption was right when they heard August asking for a sibling, and they started looking around. Peter and Mariska commented on starting the adoption process and said they were fortunate, since things went much faster for them than in many other cases.

Soon after Amaya joined their family, though, August suggested they add another little one to their growing little family. Although Peter and Mariska were slightly surprised to hear their oldest ask for another sibling, they liked the idea and started looking again. Peter shared:

"When we went ahead with the adoption, August thought it was his idea. Then he wanted a little boy. We said, really? A miracle happened and our second son, Andrew, fell out of the sky and into our home."

Andrew's adoption happened a mere four months after Amaya's. Nonetheless, the parents were over the moon when they heard they could adopt the boy, and they jumped at the opportunity.

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