A pair of twins born in Illinois over New Year's were delivered within seconds of each other -- but in different years.

The timing of the deliveries was actually a choice offered by the parents' doctor to give the twins distinctive birthdays.

"Madisen was born in 2010, and Aiden was born in 2011 at 11:59 and at midnight," said Ashley Fansler, the twins' mother

The Rockford Register Star reported the doctor had scheduled a caesarean section to avoid complications with the twins delivery.

When the possibility of having the babies born in separate years came up, the parents decided to take advantage of the rare opportunity.