I made my first post over here in piecing back in April. Didn't hear ILY until mid August. Don't use that as a benchmark - I'm sure every time is different.
Note however I did NOT say it first. I wasn't going to affirm how I felt until WAW did first. What I did however is to try and make myself lovable. That is the spirit of GAL - transforming (or reforming) yourself into that person that our WAS's fell in love with. Make the changes permanent and the ILY's will come.
Glad you are in MC - hope that is working. It sounds to me like you H is certainly heading in the direction....keep posting!
Sven
Never sacrifice the great for the good. Sometimes the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair.