I called my W "babe" a couple of times the other day without thinking, and she just came - a few weeks ago, she would've said "don't call me that" - so from the other side, take that as a positive!
Also, you said some pretty great stuff I'm sure, judging by his reaction. It appears to me that he's really trying to win back YOUR affection with the painting and fixing up. You did exactly the right thing by saying it looked amazing.
I would lay way off the "hard talk" now. You've said it, he knows it, it doesn't really need to be hammered into his head. H is very obviously confused beyond words; I get it, my W is the same way.
By the way, it kinda makes me chuckle because your topic 'Pregnant H' always makes me think your H is pregnant.
