Hello,
I can pretty much recognize some of these "issues" from my early days with my dom. I didn't have them as strongly as you do, but nevertheless I recognize those feelings and I can tell you my opinion and experience.
Overall, I think they are pretty normal feelings in the beginning, though not all of them are entirely healthy, and that they will lessen over time.
(That is, if you stay together. I just read your blog, sorry. I'll write on anyway, because you may have the same with other partners.)
Something about Woody sends me so far into sub mode that I end up pretty much unable to do or say anything unless he asks/tells me to. I brought that up yesterday and he doesn't really understand why I'm having the problem. He thinks telling me "It's okay to stop things to talk to me, and I want you to touch me and ask for or do what *you* want" is going to push me past whatever's blocking me... and it isn't.
Okey, subspace is desired, but if it hinders communication all the time that is wrong. I guess this is your work. Do some soul searching to find out where the block is. My guess is that it is partly fear, partly your own fantasies, desires and illusions about The Great Dominant Who Knows Everything and leads you with no hesitation to a brighter future

. I'd say enjoy while your relationship is new.
Try to communicate after the scene (why not send him an email the next day, highlighting mainly the positives, so that he knows next time?) Also he will learn to know you better and read better. Ask him to check in with simple questions during play. Try to be expressive nonverbally, so that he can read you.
He wants me to "just do or ask for"...
To ask for is an act of self love. And it need not be pushing. Your partner is not obligated to follow, especially a dominant one, if he isn't happy to. Also, you can ask in very seductive, way which will help his arousal.
Then the touching while he's sleeping thing....thought of touching them deliberately while they're sleeping terrifies me.
I'd suggest if you want to change it, just try. Several times. You don't even have to touch him at first, just "touch" his intimate space from a few cm distance.
But with him, I'm apparently supposed to be part of the fantasy, and that makes me feel all kinds of uncomfortable, especially if I then have to say what it is.
Yeah. Again, you will probably get more comfortable with time, when you know better what you like and what you don't. I didn't know my fantasies two years ago.
But this is important input to him. Dominance is really difficult, and finding the submissive's triggers for arousal is hard if they can't tell you. Watching pictures together may help, with simple Do you like this? questions, when all you have to do is nod your head.
...it's like, you're the guide here, why do *I* have to set the scene? Plus by that point I'm pretty much entirely in "awaiting input" mode; if you even asked me my name I wouldn't be able to answer..
Number one about The Great Dominant Who Knows Everything. It is one of your fantasies you couldn't admit before, but which you want him to fulfill, right? Something like please be in charge, please set the entire scenario for me, please be more dominant then you are.
He's definitely pushing my comfort zones... but he's pushing ones I'm not sure I'm okay with having pushed, and the lack of communication is not helping matters.
I think this are pretty reasonable areas to explore, I encourage you to try. They lead to self awareness and self actualization. Nevertheless, ask him to slow down. There is all the time in the world.