Separated by the stroke of midnight, several sets of twins were born on opposite sides of the new millennium.
"We got the best of both years," said Julie Wallman of Indianapolis early Saturday, cradling her newborns in her arms. "The first baby of the millennium and a tax deduction."
When it became clear during labor that Wallman would need a Caesarean section, the couple asked the doctors to wait until around midnight.
Jacob Wallman was born at 11:59 p.m. Friday. His sister, Jordan, was delivered at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Asked how she would explain the timing to the twins someday, Wallman said she would tell them "that they're special, and we wanted to make it even more special, be a part of history."
In Enid, Okla., Bass Baptist Medical Center recorded Jacob Beebe's birth in the final instant of 1999, his brother Joshua's a minute later.
The new sons of Bengi and Tim Beebe will probably do some sharing. The first baby born at the hospital in the new year gets a case of diapers, three months of maid service and other gifts.
"If I could have picked any other time, I sure would have," Beebe said as he held the two early Saturday. "But I'm just so happy they are here."
At Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Va., a woman gave birth to a girl at 11:52 p.m. Her brother arrived at 12:01 p.m.
In Seattle, a boy was born at 10:06 p.m. Friday and his brother followed at 12:16 a.m. Saturday, said a University of Washington Medical Center spokesman. The hospital identified the parents as Maria Cruz Mora-Rivas and Emiliano Villafuerte, both of Wenatchee.
In Berlin, Germany, a 25-year-old Bulgarian mother first gave birth to Mircem, four minutes before the end of 1999, doctors at St. Joseph's Hospital said. A minute into New Year's Day, his brother Mircan followed. The hospital declined to identify the mother, but indicated all three were in good health.