It is nice that your H is more engaged and friendly w/ you. It could be because he feels some sort of pressure is off of him. I think that is why my H has been more easy-going w/ me lately.
Sorry about your dad. (((Sunny)))
PS- I saw my SD sister yesterday! She and her grown kids were flying from CA to NC and had a layover for a couple of hours at the airport near me. My kids and I went down to see them, and they brought some stuffed animals for my kids that they had gotten at Sea World the day before. Just thought I would share!