I love him

My boyfriend and I have been together for 11 months now. We have never said the big "I love you". I'm 21, he's 28. He's been in love before, I haven't. But I know for a fact I'm in love with him. 
I knew the moment I met him I would love him and within a month of our relationship I knew I was in love. Every day I fall harder and harder and now I'm bursting to say it. I love him so much it hurts. 
We talk about our future of marriage and children and buying a house. We aren't in a rush but we know we want to be together for the long run. I'm waiting for him to tell me first, but I might just say it one day because I can't hold it in. What do you ladies think? I have always thought that maybe he'd wait to say it until after our 1 year mark, which is next month. 
When did you tell your SO you loved them? Who said it first? And when did you know you loved them.