Sara-Rose and Joseph Smith have already caused their parents their fair share of surprises, and they're only 8 days old.
The twins were born in Tauranga Hospital on January 1, the first set to be born in Tauranga this decade and one of the first sets to be born in New Zealand.
Mum Maxine, 25, went into labour early on New Year's Day - which came as a big surprise to dad Nick.
Mr Smith, 26, had "pulled an all-nighter" seeing in the New Year, and had "just hit the pillow" when his wife announced she was having contractions.
The twins weren't due until February 16, but Mrs Smith had been booked in for a caesarean section on January 27.
But the babies wouldn't wait. After Mrs Smith arrived at Tauranga Hospital about 10am on January 1, Sara-Rose was born at 6.54pm, weighing 1.8kg, and Joseph three minutes later at a weight of 2kg.
"It happened so fast. They were coming, but they were upside down - they were breach - so Maxine had to have an emergency C-section," Mr Smith said.
Although the babies were born on January 1, it did not occur to the couple that they might be the first twins of the decade in Tauranga or New Zealand.
"We didn't think anything of it, we thought there would have been heaps of others."
But when they saw a media report about an Opotiki couple who believed their twins born on January 2 were the first, they were shocked.
"I couldn't believe it. I saw the article and I thought 'what? You've got to be kidding me!'
"I had the worst sleep thinking about it.
"[But] I feel a bit stink for the other people."
In fact, twins born at Waikato Hospital at 9.23am and 10.11am on January 1 are believed to be New Zealand's first twins of the decade.
Having twins on the first day of a new decade was "really special" for Mr and Mrs Smith, who are also parents to Avah, 2, and Nathan, 10 months.
"I just think January 1 2010 is cool, we don't have to be the first," Mrs Smith said.
The pregnancy was a surprise to the couple, as Nathan was just 6 weeks old when they conceived.
News of the twins was "a real shock", Mr Smith said.
"Maxine's sister has triplets and her cousin has twins. Her family is riddled with them, but we thought it would miss us.
"It was a shock all round."
But they soon realised having twins was "something special", and said the babies had been a delight.
As they were both born prematurely, Sara-Rose and Joseph will stay in Tauranga Hospital for about another month, while Mrs Smith is expected to be discharged early next week.
Mr Smith said mum and babies were doing "excellent", and the babies were already showing their individuality.
"Joseph is just like his brother, he even cries like his brother, and Sara is pretty placid. They have completely different personalities, and they look really different as well."
Proud parents celebrate city's first twins this decade
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