Dd is not long 2, she although not a dream baby she was relitivly easy. Mostly content to be left to play on her mat from 8 weeks. Cried very little. Took to solid food well. Would sleep anywhere in her pushchair when tired. Not a great night time sleeper but only ever woke up for short periods and was easy to resetle.
The past few weeks she has turned into a living nightmare. She's mastered the art of an unendable toddler temper tantrum. Fights bed time despite not having had a day time sleep since 18 months. Refusing food, so waking up hungery for hours on end at night and then not wanting to go back to sleep. Screams I don't want it, like it, want to etc at the top of her lungs. Won't sit still for 2 seconds. Throws things around rather than play with them or us. Can escape from buggy and car seat!
Personally I find her easiest now. Although she has her moments I know her. She's not some mystery that I working on pure guess work. She can communicate her likes a dislikes, albeit there's an almightly temper tantrum when the answer's no, and sometimes even when the answer's yes! She's not completely helpless and entirely reliant on me. It doesn't take us hours to get ready to leave to go anywhere and I don't have to take half the house with me, I can sometimes just leave with her and my keys. She goes through more clothes than when she was tiny.
It's all swings and round abouts. Dh found her easy as a baby (although went out to work, wasn't breast feeding, got a lot more sleep, had me; the baby instruction manule on hand most of the time) is finding this stage much harder.
My wise and lovely dad told me it doesn't just magically get eaiser with your children but you're never in the same helpless position as you were when they were brand new. You grow with them and although there are always new worries and hardships, there are bigger and better rewards at every stage.