Pen,
Read up all you can and compare them. You will find the Nikon and Canon's almost identical.
When I recently purchased mine I was soooo close to buying the Nikon D5000 too or a Canon T1i until I seen them in person.
Get yourself to a camera store, to where you can physically compare and hold the 2.
That's what changed my mind.
At first I wanted the Nikon but then I preferred the Canon T1i after holding the 2.
I bought the Canon T1i.
Then, instead of getting the camera with the 2 kit lenses as they sell the package, I opted to by just the Canon body and purchased a Tamron 18-270mm macro lense.
Not saying it is the best glass available, but it was in my budget and it was more versatile for my uses. I didn't want to keep swapping out 2 lenses all the time.