When Pink Isn't For Kids

I think I've over-documented Abbey's love of pink.  If you've missed the posts or just completely ignore what I write (it's ok, I know some of you are only here for the baby picture fix, I forgive you), I'm sure you've noticed that her wardrobe is a colorful mess that generally consists of at least one pink item. 
With that being said, I was still taken a little aback when we went to the mall this week and she squealed: "Mommy, that's MY store!!"
She was talking about Victoria's Secret Pink.

Now, I'm old enough to remember VS before Pink, then when Pink was simply a little segment of their merchandise.  I actually have to give them giant merchandising/branding props (I don't know the right lingo here) for developing a way to hook buyers on the brand as teenagers/young adults with fun, flirty products.  I mean, maybe I'm a branding llama myself, but there's something about Victoria's Secret that makes me feel a little prettier, a little more mysterious, and who doesn't like to feel like that?

But my little girl isn't even three yet, and I don't need her hooked that young.  Still, she was drawn to the pink and white polka dots on the walls, the colorful bras, panties, and pajama pants beckoning from the windows, the music playing inside.

I tried to explain: "Sorry Abbey; that's a store for grown-up girls."

She was insistent: "Mommy!  It's a store for kids!"

Thankfully, at our mall, Pink is directly across from Bath and Body Works, so she was enticed away from the skimpy boxers and tanks with the promise of sampling hand sanitizers.  I am pretty sure she's forgotten all about it by now, but I haven't. 

How many times will she see that store before she is old enough to shop there? Will I ever be ready for her to shop there? I've mentioned before that I don't think clothes are a parenting battle worth fighting, but I hadn't really thought about it in terms of what she would want to wear under those clothes.

I know I have time before this becomes a genuine issue in our house. Unfortunately, I don't think I have as much time as I expected.

And because I'm feeling a little nostalgic (and just copied some pictures from my parents), here are some old pictures of my babies. It's not even a year ago, but they look so little and different!