SoopirV wrote:I'm very new, but isn't Rx of ESP8266 supposed to go to Tx on FTDI/Uno and vice versa?
That is correct. RX from ESP goes to TX, TX from ESP goes to RX.
I also have an ESP12E and I don't connect GPIO2 to anything.
I also power it from 5V and it works. I rarely get issues while uploading sketches.
Also, leave GPIO0 connected to GND only when you want to upload a new sketch. Remove this connection after you uploaded the sketch for it to boot into it.