user control dependent drop down lists

 I have a user control with 2 drop down lists and a text box, named 'ddlState', 'ddlMajorCity', and 'tbNotes' respectively.  I have a list box named 'lbRegion' on the .aspx page that will populate the 'ddlState' in the userControl. 
Ex:  user selects 'West' and a list of all western states shows up in the drop down list.  The first item in the drop down list 'ddlState' is actually --Select-- and the drop down list 'ddlMajorCity' is disabled.
The user then selects a state from the 'ddlState' and 'ddlMajorCity' is enabled and its values are dependant on what state was selected in 'ddlState'.  However, again '--Select--' is the first item in the drop down list (with all of the cities listed underneath).
......up to here it works fine.....
However, I have an 'add' button that is on the aspx page - so the user ...