Obama Spends 49th Birthday Without Family

President Barack Obama spends his 49th birthday on Wednesday without his family, but with plenty of Americans wishes. First lady Michelle Obama is vacationing in Spain with 9-year-old daughter Sasha while elder Malia (12) is away at summer camp.

In a press brief earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "I think it's safe to say that of course he will miss them. He has a daughter at camp that I know he's already talked to a couple of us that obviously he dearly misses. But they'll be all back together soon."

On Monday, Obama said in Atlanta, "I will be 49 this week. I have a lot more gray hair than I did last year."

The President will go home tonight and spend the birthday night with friends in the Hyde Park neighborhood of the city, reports CBS News. The next day Obama is scheduled to attend several fund-raising functions.

The Democrats are organizing parties across the country in the president's honor and Republicans are sending out birthday cards through newly created website www.baracksbirthdaycards.com.

Obama has chalked up some major successes in past one year - passage of health care and financial reform, new nuke deal with Russia and was also honored with Nobel peace prize.

On his 48th birthday, Obama rang with a rollicking double-party with Helen Thomas. He brought a stack of cupcakes for her adorned with a candle.

Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii and is the 44th President of United States and first African American to hold the office. From January 2005 to November 2008, he served as a United States Senator from Illinois.