Adjustment Period

So the past two weeks have been tough for Robert. He so desperately wants to play and be scratched behind his neck, but is too afraid to relax, he has come a long way however, from the scared trembling cockatiel I brought home in a dark cardboard box. The pet store really should be ashamed.
Ok, so progress. This week, Robert learned that we are not going to hurt him. He loves all the attention he is getting, loves when my husband sings Elvis tunes to him, likes the Gin Blossoms when I sing to him. His crowning feathers are in their happy, content position, and he doesn't fear us.
We have started leaving his cage door open, so that he will learn that he is free to come out and play every so often. He flew out on his own, quite by accident earlier this week. He found that he can still fly short distances, and settled himself on the bottom legs of our other cockatiel's cage - getting him back into his cage was a trick.
Yesterday, Robert came out, and he let me lie near him, about a half a tile away. He cocked his head, looked around, then back to the bottom of the birdcage.
 He had a rough night but seemed in a good mood this morning. And that's where the next chapter begins.