congratulations on your marrige and upcoming baby!!!!
as for your dash question. . . . .
i don't think you can make the stock gauge cluster any brighter, but you can replace your gauges with aftermarket (like autometer) ones that have better visibillity. if you wanted to go all-out you could make a custom dash for your new gauges or you can just coulmn-mount them. unfortunately, i don't know a cheap, junkyard-style upgrade for the gauges.
here is a pic of my 510's dash for inspirational porpouses. the only stock gauge i am still using is the fuel gauge.
