Is there a difference between love and "in love"?

My boyfriend of 5 months told me he loved me about 2 months into the relationship, and it was wonderful but there was a point not too long after that that I said something like "I'm in love with you" thinking it was basically the same thing but he was like what? and seemed a little taken aback by it. Recently though, he texted me something like, "Good morning to the gorgeous woman I'm in love with" so was that like a step up? Does it mean more to be "in love" with someone than to just love them? Just curious about other people's views on this☺