I seem to be always telling Amy off (don't bounce on the sofa, get down from there and No you can't!) Is this a normal thing to be saying to a two year old or am I too strict? Am I stopping her from being a child? Do you do

the same thing all day every day?

 I think that we have all been there at some point or another - be consistent, but also implement distraction techniques.  Get her interested in doing something else, as soon as she starts looking at that sofa with a glint in her eye you know what she is going to do - so jump in there quick with a different game or activity to do. 

My saving grace is the card games we have, alphabet cards, snap cards and number matching cards.  They are suitable from 18 months according to the box - I used them from about one year.  She liked the pretty colours, it worked. 

Basically I did get 'depressed' in as much as I was not in a medical condition, but i felt continually negative because all I said was 'no'. 
it is not lunch time now
dont chew on that toy
dont pick up rubbish off the ground
dont rip that book
no telly now
not bathtime now
no more drink yet - you'll burst
is there anything else a child can do in a day?  it was all no!

It got me down.  So I decided to be positive.  Used distraction technique to get her on side, talked her through what we were allowed to do, spoke positive encouragement into her to validate what she had done that was good.

Today leaving pre-school she wanted to run to the bottom of the drive (it is a slight hill).  I said she could so long as she stopped at the white line. It is about three meters from the end of the drive and so a safe distance from the road, and there were other parents walking down the hill too. She started off, then a jeep turned into the drive, so i suggested we stop and wait for it to pass - she didnt get it at all.  The bottom lip started to wobble.  So i held her hand and said 'you can run when it is gone'  She looked at me like I had given her all her christmasses at once.  Once the jeep was gone she had the whole drive to run down still and not just the bottom bit, she stopped at the white line.  Other parents were amazed!  Naturally she got hugs and kisses, but also  a 'well done for stopping at the line, that was a very safe place to stop.'

She glowed and her chest swelled with pride.  It was like she had made the boring rule to stop before the official end of the drive herself.  By changing my wording I have credited her with doing something she enjoys, and doing it right.  But also taught her safety. 

I wish you success with finding ways to speak positive things instead of all those 'no's'  It is possible, just takes a bit of effort at first to change the mentality.  I still say no - usually yell it as she runs too fast around the corner and i worry that a car may vere off the road towards her!!!  and she skids to a halt and i realise i have over reacted.  Yet again.  We are good though.
Peace
EF.x