What's is mean when this guy calls me beautiful/does this?

Okay thi guy I have known from 7 months. In the beginning he called me hot, then cute, and now beautiful. He was never able to ask me out, even though I really wanted him to because in the beginning when he would call me hot, I was dating his best friend. Now me and his best friend broke up 4 months ago. About 3 months ago I let him know that I liked him, and he said that he liked me too, but that we couldn't date because of our living distances. (He lives in oregon, I live in Ohio) Now it's 3 months later, and he is calling me beautiful, tells me how amazing I am, how awesome I am, how I'm the best thing taht ever happened to him, and that I'm beautiful. Does he still like me? What does he mean when he calls me beautiful? How should I approach this. Detailed answers please! Easy 10 points!!