Hi Linda,
Yesterday, was the 5th anniversary of my mom's passing, and I often still check in here, but felt that I needed to respond to your post. This is just my feeling, but if it upsets you to look at your mom's pictures, then by all means, keep them away until you are ready to look at them.
I would write letters in a journal to my mom, and I found that this made it easier for me over time. For the last few years, I have found that the anniversary dates were the hardest, as I would go through the last few days of her life in my head, over and over again. On the plus side, I know that some days as in anniversary dates, and holidays are difficult, but it does get easier over time.
I found that first year tremendously difficult, and I feel sorry that you are enduring this now. It does get easier and it does get better. Learning to live with grief is a difficult process, but please know that you will one day be able to think of your mother and smile, and the joys in your life will return. We never stop loving our mothers, but the pain does subside.