The terrible TWOs Syndrome

Is the terrible twos syndrome beginning to show now? The terrible twos is characterized by toddlers being negative about most things and often saying 'no', the terrible twos may also find your toddler having frequent mood changes and temper tantrums. Maximus is not two yet but I read that the terrible twos will happen anytime when toddlers reach the second years or after the first year birthday.
Maximus is showing a lot of his terrible Twos signs after he turns 18 months. The very first sign was shaking his head to say "no" or disapprove to anything! It's not easy to handle such issues because he can hardly express himself in words yet. He has only limited vocab at this moment. Thus, we have to give him varieties until he nods to it.
Another syndrome is the high-pitch scream! He screams to anything and everything that is unpleasant and not at his approval! Most of the time to avoid continuous screaming we have to distract him or get him to show us what he wanted.
The mood changes and temper tantrums is also the top to the list! He can be happily playing in the minute but the next he will start to throw his toys without much reasons. IGNORE! We will ignore him at all times but mostly he will get what he wanted at the end because it will turn out to be another high-pitch screaming.
It's not an easy-beasy task when toddlers reach the big Twos! I am just hoping for the best although nothing of the knowledge in the early childhood theories that I could apply work! It's the hardest part... it's the real-life scenario.
However, Maximus has reach to a acceptable level of understanding instruction and reasoning. If he is in his good mood, he will be able to accept instructions and reasons. Otherwise, it's just empty talks and he will go his ways...
I tried the spare the rod, spoil the child technique too but he just couldn't understand spanking and worst I don't want him to pick up the habit to spake others with the rod. Anyway, I hope that patience and endurance will show better results.
Our best tool is to IGNORE when it get out of hands / beyond control or to DISTRACT when he can't get what he wanted. Hope that God will provide us with better wisdom in raising our toddler from the terrible Twos syndrome.