Obama gets birthday wishes from his ladies, gift from Secret Service

Despite spending his 49th birthday without any of his family, President Obama received special birthday wishes from both of his daughters and the first lady on Wednesday, as well as a "heartfelt gift" from his Secret Service detail.

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha, 9, are traveling in Spain this week, which is five hours ahead of Washington. According to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, their call came this morning.

At lunchtime, Obama's eldest daughter, Malia, who is away at camp, called, using her only allowed phone call of the month.

"Both those calls were the highlights of his day," Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Chicago, where the president will have dinner with friends.

One bright spot: Bo, the family's Portugese water spaniel, accompanied the president to Chicago, so he is not technically all alone on his birthday.

As for whether the president received any special birthday presents, Gibbs said Obama mentioned a gift from the members of his Secret Service detail, but wouldn't say what it was, only that it was "special" and "heartfelt."

Obama can often be spotted wearing another gift from members of the Secret Service: A wristwatch given to him in 2007 for his 46th birthday.