Britney's Visitation "Expanded"

For the first time in months, sparring exes Britney Spears and Kevin Federline were both in a California courtroom to discuss matters in their ongoing custody battle. And at the end of the day, her efforts were worth it, as lawyers confirm that her current agreement with K-Fed has been expanded.

"Kevin's goal has always been for two parents to participate actively in their lives,"

his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan said after the hearings adjourned this afternoon. "But when that will occur, I can't tell you that."

According to Kaplan, there has been no change in the custodial orders, but after hours of closed-door chats, there has been "an expansion, which is a function of recognition of progress made."

While no more specifics were given about what exactly has been expanded, insiders are saying it definitely means that Britney will be spending more time with her two sons than her current two to three brief visits during the week. And perhaps, suggest the insiders, Brit might be given a chance to have an occasional monitored, overnight visit from her sons.

"This represents a step going forward," added Kaplan, "A cautious step, but a step nonetheless."

In a joint statement to the press, Britney's parents echoed this sentiment: "We are so pleased with britney's progress," said Jamie and Lynne Spears. "And we very much appreciate the court's recogntition of her progress."

Early this morning, Britney, looking her best in a brown and white polka-dot dress and straightened blonde locks, waited patiently in a holding area until around 9:37 am PT while Commissioner Scott Gordon dealt with matters in other cases.

When their case was finally called, the superstar entered the courtroom with her mom, Lynne and father Jamie, who sat in the back row. They were joined by Blair Berk, the lawyer who represents Britney's father. Both Brit and Kevin, decked out in a beige suit, gold earrings and pinky ring, were sworn in by Gordon.

According to a witness in the courtroom, when Brit-Brit was asked to state her name for the record, she whispered, almost inaudibly, "Britney." Gordon had to instruct her further to give her full name.

Almost immediately after being sworn in, Britney's lawyer asked that the court be closed to the public and the request was granted by Jordan.

Around 10:25 am PT, there was a break in the action and Brit — guarded by a group of six imposing men — headed to the ladies room.

Not much later, a rep for the court announced that both parties had entered into a private discussion outside of the courtroom, and that a "compromise" was being hammered out. Presumably, today's "expansion" is a result of these discussions.

Meanwhile, in a strange only-in-Hollywood twist, Elliott Mintz, better known as the publicist for celebutante extraordinaire Paris Hilton, has introduced himself as the new PR mouthpiece for K-Fed.