Lenses are confusing...I find them very confusing and only know a little about them - you wouldn't believe the details some people know about them, whew.
I think BrowniesMom's lens is a Macro...isn't it?
The lens I used for Wylie and for those shallow-depth-of-field shots were all on my cheapo, fab 50mm 1.8 Nikon lens. The D90 actually comes w/ an awesome kit lens - the 18-105mm VR - that's a nice zoom range (close up and far) and has Vibration Reduction. It's not a honker, huge zoom lens either - which is nice. I also have a 60mm Sigma Macro (prime, not zoom) lens 1.4 (can open up to 1.4). You can use Macros not just for flowers/close ups but also for portraits and things like that.
Seriously, Bon - I'd realllly think about the lens limitations of the D5000 - my concern is you'd be disappointed later, just like I was in the D40 with not being able to buy/use the lenses I wanted to. You won't be able to use the Nikon 1.8 etc on that camera. But, if all that isn't a big deal to you...
The Rebel is a nice camera! I'd just say be cautious when buying from the NY camera houses bc a LOT of those are gray market, so the parts are not as good quality as they should be.
{BRENY - GREAT pics! Such rich color, do you notice that? And the mid air pic??? LOL!!!}