Jess,
the DSLRs from any of the major manufacturers are all outstanding and bring you into systems -- lenses, flash units, macro gear, etc. -- that will meet any need you may have now or in the future. So, you can't go wrong with any of them.

The problem folks have is that they think that the camera is the whole answer the the better the camera/lens combination, the better their images. Unfortunately, the back end of the process is just as important as the capture part in making the most of your camera. You have to be willing to be your own lab to maximize your photographic process.

Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Fuji, Leica etc. all make great cameras and outstanding lenses. There are differences in terms of the sensor size, number of pixels and the like but at a certain price point, you couldn't go wrong with a camera/lens from any of these manufacturers. You should think about how you are going to use the camera which will help focus on the format that would be best for you -- 4/3, 1.6 crop factor, 1.3 crop factor, full-frame -- and then go and handle everything in your price range. I think that you'll find the right combination of a camera that does what you want and also just plain feels right.

You should be excited about your first DSLR but don't let the choices overwhelm you. There is no such thing as a mistake you can't correct. And remember that the lens is actually more important than the camera body in a DSLR. So choose that (or them) wisely.

Good luck and have lots of fun.

Jim