How fast should a hive be growing?

[Draginol]

I've got 2 hives that started with 3 frames full of bees, some capped brood and a queen.

Now, approximately 3 weeks later, both hives are only up to 4 frames full of bees and only 5 frames (total) that have been drawn.

The hives look like they're doing okay, I just don't know how fast the bees should be expanding.  All the books and forums and such I read give the impression that they should be expanding faster than this.

Can anyone give me any pointers on how fast to expect the hives to grow or where I can go to find out? Thanks!

[MrILoveTheAnts]

It takes the bees about 3 weeks to build out a frame with cells. Right now the queen is limited in her laying to the already made cells and of course honey being brought in. As they expand the nest she'll be able to lay so many more eggs. Give it a few weeks, and feed them.

[Michael Bush]

Sometimes they languish a while and then take off like a rocket.  It will be at least four weeks from when you install a package before there are actually more bees than you started with.