What is this feeling? Love or Not?

I know that when people ask "what does love feel like" they say "you'll know". I am kinda sick of this answer. So there is this guy, and I only see him a handful of times a year. I've always had a crush on him, but never really noticed it until the recent times I visited him. He lives at the beach 2 hours away from where I live, and I have come to love the eastern shore. When I'm outta college, that's where I'm headed. Anyway, whenever I think of him, there is this shiver that goes through my body, and whenever I'm around him I just feel happy. I sleep with a picture of us a toddlers together under my pillow sometimes when I feel sad. That picture has also given me good luck. Whenever I think of him, I cant help but to smile. He is often in my dreams. Whenever he is with me it is like I turn into a whole different person. One time, we were on the boardwalk with his little sister, and he dared me to go up to a fake santa and say something, and I did, and I would have never said that before.

The thing is I don't know if what I am feeling is love. My mom says it is just puppy love, but I don't know. I really need help.